Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has heaped praise on crocked midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as he eagerly awaits his team mate’s return from injury.
The England international, on a reported £90,000-per-week at Anfield [Source: Spotrac], has been out injured since suffering ligament damage against Roma last season.
And Henderson cannot wait for Oxlade-Chamberlain to be back: “He’s a great lad and I just hope he can keep getting stronger and get back to us as soon as he can, because he’s a massive, massive player for us,” he told Liverpool’s official website.
“It was a massive bonus that we signed him and I know he will come back stronger. When he does and he gets back into his rhythm, he’ll be straight back in. So, fingers crossed he keeps going the way he has been because I think he’s progressing well with his rehab. Hopefully that will continue because Ox has got a big part to play whenever he is back.”
OPINION
Every Liverpool fan will agree with Henderson’s sentiments, here. Oxlade-Chamberlain was just starting to find top gear for Liverpool after his move from Arsenal last summer so for him to go down with a long term injury when he did, and to miss both the Champions League final and the World Cup in Russia, was such a cruel blow. The club have been missing the 25-year-old in recent weeks, as Naby Keita and Fabinho have struggled to adapt to English football to varying degrees. Henderson is right, once Oxlade-Chamberlain is back to full fitness he will be a key part of this Liverpool team once again. His energy and goal threat from midfield, not to mention his ability to run with the ball, have been big misses for the Reds and manager Jurgen Klopp will be hoping he’s fit to return sooner rather than later. Here’s hoping the rest of his recovery goes well and he’s back in a Liverpool shirt before long.
