Redknapp claims Van Dijk could return from injury in March

Jamie Redknapp has suggested that Virgil van Dijk could return from injury in March or April.

The Dutchman is currently sidelined with cruciate ligament damage, with the general consensus that he could miss the entire season.

Joe Gomez has also picked up a serious problem, leaving Liverpool with a huge crisis at centre-back.

Van Dijk’s injury record was exemplary before his current issue rose, which Redknapp believes could be key.

Speaking on Sky Sports podcast Pitch To Post, the former Liverpool midfielder said his natural fitness could mean he returns sooner than others:

I’ve heard people say that they’ve got to go out and get a really big signing because Virgil is going to be injured, but if he goes through the right rehab to get fit, he’s not going to be too far away from coming back in maybe March or April time as a guess.

Normally it’s six or seven months, he’s an incredibly fit guy and he’ll be a good healer.

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If Redknapp’s words were to come true, it would be a rare, and enormous, boost on the injury front at Anfield this season.

It would mean arguably their most important player could play some part in the remainder of the campaign, at which point the Reds could be fighting for trophies.

What Jurgen Klopp is having to put up with is unprecedented, with Van Dijk, Gomez, Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and Thiago all picking up injuries in a similar time period.

This is going to be a hugely taxing period for Liverpool, but if they come through it and clinch Premier League title glory again, I believe it will be a better achievement than last season, considering their current woes.