Liverpool’s left-back Andy Robertson, who has been off since early January, will return from his protracted shoulder injury in the New Year.
Due to a shoulder dislocation sustained in Scotland’s 2-0 loss to Spain, Robertson has been out since mid-October and has needed surgery.
Due to his recuperation, the 29-year-old has missed 12 games so far. Luke Chambers, Joe Gomez, and Kostas Tsimikas have filled in for him.
Robertson is expected to miss at least five more contests and the rest of the year, but he is expected to return in January.
The Scotland captain is “on schedule” to return next month, according to Lewis Steele of The Mail. He has already started running outside at the AXA Training Centre.
With his rehabilitation efforts “split between treatment and strength work on the injured shoulder,” Robertson is reportedly making “daily progress.”
It should come as no surprise that he is “not yet involved in contact training,” with the strength of his reconstructed shoulder determining when full training may resume.
Even though only “next month” is mentioned, it’s probably safe to believe that Robertson won’t be put in danger until after winter break.
Liverpool matches up against Newcastle in the Premier League on New Year’s Day and Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 7 after playing five more games in December.
In the current scenario, Robertson would have two weeks to come up to speed before the trip to Bournemouth on January 21.
Progress in the Carabao Cup, however, may add to that as well; a possible semifinal is scheduled for the week of January 8.
In any case, Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to depend on Robertson to start until he is totally fit, barring an injury to Tsimikas, Gomez, or Chambers.
When Alisson resumed full training last week and went on to make two vital saves to help Liverpool defeat Crystal Palace 2-1, Klopp already had a significant injury boost.
Diogo Jota is speeding up his recuperation from a hamstring injury, while Alexis Mac Allister, who missed that match due to a knee issue, is probably not going to be off for long.
After undergoing ACL surgery, Joel Matip will miss the rest of the season, and precautions are being made with Stefan Bajcetic’s calf and Thiago’s hip.