Liverpool must be careful with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as he continues to make his return to first team football, according to former Reds legend John Aldridge.
The midfielder took another step on the comeback trail on Sunday afternoon when he started for the U23s alongside fellow long term absentees Rhian Brewster and Joe Gomez, but Aldridge urged the club to exercise caution.
Writing in a column for the Echo, he said: “We’ve got to be careful with Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“He’s been out for a long time, he knows that and you’ve got to make sure he’s alright so it was good for him to get some more minutes for the Under-23s and it’s great that Joe Gomez has had a run-out.
OPINION
Jurgen Klopp has already jumped the gun once on Oxlade-Chamberlain’s return, and you get the impression that he won’t be making the same mistake again. The midfielder started an U23s match against Derby County a little while ago, but didn’t make it past half time, and afterwards the German was quick to admit his error. This time around, you would expect him to be more cautious, but it is a very thin line to toe. On the one hand, you can’t rush a player back from injury, especially when that injury was as bad as the one the that the Ox sustained around this time last season. On the other, the sooner he is back in the side to help with this last push for the title, the better. It’s a situation that requires subtlety and good man management, and thankfully, Klopp has both in abundance. The German will make the right call, you can be sure of it.
