Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain admits he faces a ‘boring process’ as he continues to recover a knee ligament injury.
The Liverpool star saw his World Cup hopes cruelly shattered when he was stretchered off in the first half of last season’s Champions League final semi-final first-leg against Roma.
He could now be sidelined for the remainder of the calendar year after a debut campaign for the club in which he produced arguably the best form of his career.
Despite the tough spell ahead, the midfielder is evidently in no mood to sulk and instead determined to get himself fit again.
Discussing his injury on FA’s England YouTube channel on Thursday, he said: “Yeah it’s alright.”
“Saw the surgeon just now. He’s happy with everything so we’re moving in the right direction. It’s just going to be a long process, a boring one but that’s life.”
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The former Arsenal man’s bursting runs between the lines were missed dearly in Liverpool’s European showdown with Real Madrid.
It has taken a mere season for Oxlade-Chamberlain to defy the doubts that loomed over him upon his arrival for a fee of £40million that originally raised eyebrows both on Merseyside and among Gunners in London.
Less-coveted expectations that he would become a perfect fit in Jurgen Klopp’s system proved justified as the Englishman shouldered the responsibility as an integral implementor of the dynamic transition from defence to attack.
He will be greeted by fresh competition when he does complete his rehabilitation, with Naby Keita and Fabinho looking strong contenders to hold starting spots next season.
Between the three of them, Liverpool could boast a blend capable of out-smarting, out-manouvring and out-muscling any opposing midfield in the league.