Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has provided a fitness update on his Instagram account as the Liverpool star closes in on a return. The all-action midfielder hasn’t played for the Reds since suffering a serious knee injury nearly 12 months ago in a Champions League semi-final against Roma at Anfield. A tentative comeback was scheduled earlier this month for the Under-23s, but the former Arsenal man lasted just 41 minutes of the first half against Derby County before he was withdrawn as a precuation. Liverpool are understandably keen to ease Oxlade-Chamberlain back into action after such a lengthy absence and it was initially feared he would miss the entirety of the current campaign. However after working extensively on his rehabilitation, Oxlade-Chamberlain is now close to resuming full training , with manager Jurgen Klopp confirming as much earlier this week . “I spoke to him a second ago; Ox is positive, we are all positive,” Klopp said. “It was a little setback [against Derby], it was not more, but it was a setback. That’s how it is. “You don’t want to be overly sensitive after a period like this because they train a lot – training is always like this, it’s like stress for the body. You feel something, but you don’t want to mention everything because it [can be] DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). “It was the case with him, it was a little bit more than DOMS, but not really [serious]. “We are careful of course, he is working, he is doing a lot and I think will be in training in a week again. Then he will be fine.” Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently on a specially-tailored fitness programme as he works his way back into the Liverpool fold. In the Instagram video, the 25-year-old can be seen working on his fitness and ball work in Dubai. He says: “If I make it through these sessions here I should be able to get through it back home even easier, that’s the whole idea. “I’d rather work hard now and feel better for it when I’m back than not work hard enough now and regret it.” There is hope that he will be able to play a part at some point in the final six weeks of the Reds’ season.
