Injury boost handed to Liverpool as three stars return to training ahead of Newcastle United clash
Liverpool FC was on Monday morning handed a triple injury boost prior to the Newcastle Game as Joel Matip, Curtis Jones and Calvin Ramsay returned to team training after prolonged periods on the sidelines owing to injuries.
For the 19-year-old Scotsman, this would be his first team training session. Ramsay’s injury was discovered during his medical at Liverpool. The club needed reinforcement at right back post-Neco Williams’ departure to Nottingham Forest and the club was swift to sign Ramsay. He did not participate in the team’s preseason tour. Yet to feature in a competitive game for the Reds, Ramsay would be excited to join his teammates for the first time.
The youngster accumulated a goal and nine assists across all competitions for Aberdeen last season in 33 appearances across all competitions.
The other players who returned to training were Matip and Jones. A groin issue saw the former sit out for the matches against Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Bournemouth. He was part of the playing XI in the Reds’ first fixture earlier in the season against Fulham.
The 31-year-old Cameroonian was at the heart of the defence for the Reds last season, making a formidable duo with Virgil van Dijk. Matip has grown to become one of Liverpool’s first-choice centre-backs alongside the Dutchman for two seasons. Matip had a tackle success rate of 72.3% according to the official Premier League website. In his absence, Nathaniel Philips and Joe Gomez have partnered Van Dijk.
Curtis Jones also returning to train with the squad serves as a major boost as Liverpool lacked depth in the midfield. The 21-year-old scouser last featured in the FA Community Shield final against Manchester City earlier in the season. In 27 appearances across all competitions last season, he got a goal and four assists. The problem of midfield depth has shrunk by a small degree with Jones returning.
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Next in line to return to training is Spaniard Thiago Alcantara. Without the wizard and touch of Thiago, our midfield seems to lose that bit of creative spark. The gaffer recently talked about his return, saying “he isn’t too far away”. Nevertheless, multiple players returning from a lay-off should inject that vigour into the rest of the squad.
