Jurgen Klopp has confirmed one welcome piece of injury news ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League clash against Toulouse on Thursday night.
The Reds manager spoke to the press on Wednesday afternoon in the build-up to the game, and he was asked about the status of players who have or had been carrying injuries.
Among them was Cody Gakpo, who’s been sidelined since having to go off with a knee problem in the 2-1 defeat at Tottenham at the end of September (Evening Standard), but there has been a positive update on the 24-year-old.
Klopp said in relation to the Dutchman’s possible involvement tomorrow night (via Liverpool Echo): “Cody is in full training now since Sunday. He is available for the squad.”
The manager added that there are no further updates on longer-term injury absentees Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic.
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Gakpo’s return to fitness comes as a very timely boost for Liverpool ahead of the Toulouse game, giving the Reds boss greater scope to rotate the composition of his front three for tomorrow night.
The Netherlands attacker had been coming into some fine form just before his knee injury, with the goal against Spurs his third in four games (Transfermarkt) until his enforced withdrawal at half-time in that ill-fated fixture.
Whether the 24-year-old will go straight into the starting line-up against the Ligue 1 side remains to be seen, with Klopp potentially giving the nod to Darwin Nunez after he made an impact off the bench last Saturday, teeing up Mo Salah’s match-clinching goal after a rapid counterattack.
There’s a chance that the Uruguayan starts tomorrow and Gakpo is among the substitutes, with the two potentially swapping roles for the Nottingham Forest game next Sunday, but the mere fact that the manager can once more choose between the two is terrific news for Liverpool ahead of the Europa League clash.
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