Klopp provides latest on Brewster and Oxlade-Chamberlain
Jürgen Klopp does not expect Rhian Brewster to be available again until pre-season but remains hopeful Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could feature in the current campaign.
Brewster has been sidelined for 12 months and is undergoing rehabilitation at Melwood, where the striker is part of the senior set-up.
The 18-year-old continues to take positive steps in his recovery from a serious ankle injury, though Klopp believes he will come back into contention in 2019-20.
Asked for an update on Brewster’s situation, the manager said on Friday: “[He is] not as far as he wants to be, for sure. But I saw him in the last hour, he was outside training.
“His running now looks much better since he had another little surgery. He is in a good way but that will take time, unfortunately. It’s no problem, he has the time.
“I would say we don’t have to think about him before pre-season.
“But he is in a really good way and the boy is in a good mood on top. We see him here every day, he is a nice fella and that’s all good.
“He is really integrated into the team but so far he couldn’t show that on the pitch. But our opinion about him will not change. We have to wait a little bit longer for him but that’s how life is sometimes.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s own recuperation from multiple ligament damage to the knee is on course, with Klopp buoyed by what he has seen from the Liverpool midfielder so far and hoping he will return to the pitch this term.
“He is closer than Rhian. He is on a very good way,” added the boss.
“But last time [I spoke about it] I think I put a bit of pressure on the medical department but when I see him running, moving with the ball and all the stuff – which he is all doing already – it looks really good, promising, close to a return.
“But, in the end, it’s so long out, [since] April against Roma – what a situation.
“It will be fine; it looks completely without any problems in the moment, no swellings anymore. He can really work already on his fitness issues, which he’s had for a long time. I think we will see him this season.”