• [Dailystar Icon]
• Sport
• Football
• Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool fans expect Virgil van Dijk back 'before Thiago Alcantara' after gym video

Virgil van Dijk is set to be sidlined until near the end of the season, but Liverpool supporters have been buoyed by the defender working hard in the gym as he recovers from his knee injury

Virgil van Dijk has given Liverpool fans hope that he could be back on the pitch sooner than expected.

The Dutch superstar defender badly damaged his knee in a tackle from Evertons Jordan Pickford back in October.

And that ACL blow is set to sideline the 29-year-old until near the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

Jurgen Klopp wont take any risks in rushing Van Dijk through his recovery process as it will be a lengthy rehabilitation to get him 100 per cent fit.

However, the centre-half is already back working in the gym, with Liverpool having posted a video of Van Dijk working through stretches and exercises.

[The Dutchman published on Instagram a month after undergoing a knee ligament surgery]

The Dutchman underwent knee ligament surgery(Image: LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

[0_Virgil-van-Dijk.jpg]

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre(Image: GETTY)

The former Southampton and Celtic man is even seen winking at the camera, showing he is in good spirits on the road to recovery.

Hes not the only Liverpool first-team player spending time on the treatment table at present.

Summer signing Thiago Alcantara is also out after sustaining a big blow to his own knee in the feisty Merseyside derby draw.

[0_JS224386781.jpg]

Virgil van Dijk is working hard in rehab for his injury

[0_JS224620704.jpg]

Van Dijk winked to the camera too, sending his message of unity with the Liverpool supporters

The Spain internationals continued absence has been more of a mystery with his timeframe less well known.

Klopp said last week he expects Thiago to remain out for a further few weeks, and a return to action in the New Year appears likely.

Some Reds supporters even joked Van Dijk could be back first given the footage, as one posted on social media: Wheres THIAGO? What road (to recovery) has he taken?

Another mentioned: I know Thiagos injury wouldve been as bad for any player but how funny is it that we have VVD content recovering from an ACL and nothing from Thiagos recovery.

[3_GettyImages-1280880064-1.jpg]

Richarlison took out Thiago Alcantara with a bad tackle in the middle of October

And a third said: This is making me feel that he'll recover before Thiago.

Ahead of Wednesdays Champions League game with FC Midtjylland, Klopp had a rare positive update in the injury department too.

Asked for an update on the squad, Klopp told Liverpools official website : "All the same like for the last game, so just a bigger squad obviously possible.

We will travel with a full squad, which is really nice. Good. That's how it is nowadays. So nobody is back but still good. We are getting there.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.