Latest Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp suggests Joe Gomez expected to be back in late March

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Joe Gomez will return to the first-team after the upcoming international break.

The English centre-back has been out of action since picking up a lower leg fracture against Burnley and had to undergo surgery three weeks ago.

The Liverpool Echo reports the Englishman is working on his rehabilitation and will miss games against Watford, Everton, Burnley, Bayern Munich and Fulham, but could play against Tottenham on 31 March.

Klopp provided a deeper assessment of the centre-back’s progress (h/t Liverpool Echo):

“I think after the international break Joe should be okay.

“If nobody gets injured before then we’ll have a proper choice. Joe is doing his rehab and looks good, big steps, outside running and all these things.”

The Ox inches closer to a return

The manager also provided an update on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The midfielder hasn’t played a single minute this season as he recovers from a serious knee injury from the previous campaign.

The Liverpool Echo reveals that the 25-year-old would first feature for the U23s before getting a call-up for the first-team, and Klopp spoke about the midfielder’s progress (h/t Liverpool Echo

“Ox is doing 70% of team training.

“He trains full but not as much as the others. Then he leaves a bit early to do something else and the things he needs.”

The German added that they are waiting for a reaction but nothing has happened yet. Further, the staff want to prepare Ox for his career and not just one game.

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Getting the pair back would be a huge boost for us in the final stages of the season. Gomez was our best defender alongside Virgil van Dijk this season while the Ox would provide us with more drive and creativity from the midfield.