Virgil van Dijk is still expected to miss the rest of the domestic season for Liverpool, but is progressing well in his injury recovery.
The Dutchman has been absent since the middle of October, when a reckless challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saw the centre-back suffer cruciate ligament damage.
Speaking on Sunday Supplement [via thisisfutbol], The Athletic‘s James Pearce gave an update on Van Dijk’s situation, saying Euro 2020 this summer remains his most realistic target:
I think if Liverpool were to get any football whatsoever out of Van Dijk this season it would be a huge bonus.
There’s certainly not an expectation that he will be back; what I’ve been told is he’s on course in terms of his rehab, but nothing more than that. His target was obviously to get himself back for the Euros.
I think the idea that he’s going to get back in March or something and play a huge role, I just don’t think is realistic, when you suffer an injury as serious as the one that he has.
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It is understandable why so many Liverpool fans want to see Van Dijk back as soon as possible, but rushing his return could have a negative impact on the rest of his career.
The severity of the 29-year-old’s injury means he must be treated with extreme caution, only returning when he is 100 percent right to do so.
With Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak bought in on deadline day, there is less pressure on Van Dijk coming back, but there is no denying that he will make an enormous difference when returns the fold.
He is arguably the most influential player of the entire Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool, transforming the Reds so much when he joined that they reached back-to-back Champions League finals, winning one, and also clinched Premier League glory, all in the space of two-and-a-half years.
