Jürgen Klopp: Really good news on Jordan Henderson fitness
Jürgen Klopp today confirmed Jordan Henderson has taken another step on his return to full fitness by resuming outdoor training at Melwood this week.
The captain has been out of action since sustaining a knee injury against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park on April 7.
However, Henderson has made a significant stride in his rehabilitation in the last few days by stepping up his recovery programme at the club’s training complex.
Klopp told journalists at his pre-Chelsea press conference: “With Hendo, it is really good news.
“With the injury he had, we had to rest him for a long time so we could not really do a lot because we tried everything to avoid the surgery. That’s how it was and we even met the possible surgeon and he said ‘no, it’s good – it’s not necessary’.
“He can start now because he’s felt good the whole time, but we couldn’t do anything because it was an injury. Yesterday, he was on the pitch and he trained, not with the team but with Jordan [Milsom] and the rehab department.
“It looked good. It was only passing and running but everything was OK and so now we have to [go] step by step by step.
“I think I said last week or two weeks ago that it is not sure [he’ll be able to play for Liverpool in the Europa League final], because it’s only nine days now until the final in Basel, so it’s not sure because it’s a short time – but 100 per cent he will be fit for the European Championships in France, so that’s good.
“For the rest, for our games, we will have to see what will happen and so I can’t say more.”
Meanwhile, on the topic of England and the European Championships this summer, one reporter asked Klopp whether he felt Daniel Sturridge’s current fitness would enable him to compete in two games a week for his country at the tournament.
The boss replied: “With Daniel Sturridge, maybe not everybody will have liked what we did around Daniel – resting him here, letting him play there – but it [has been] the most consistent time in [his] fitness since I’ve been here, so he could improve in all parts of physical fitness.
“That’s good and now he is in good shape, you see it – you see him playing, you see him running, you see everything. There is no rest in the game, it’s a high level from first to last minute, so of course he will be fit enough for the European Championships.”