Jordan Henderson will not play for Liverpool again this season...but is still in contention for the Euros.
That is the message from manager Jurgen Klopp that at least offers some hope to England boss Gareth Southgate, as he sweats on the midfielder’s availability for the Championships this summer.
Klopp revealed his skipper won’t be back in full training until the final week of the season, but that could still be enough for Southgate to select him in the national team squad.
“Hendo is not out of the Euros yet,” he said. “I think there is a chance for sure. Unfortunately not for us (this season) but for England.
“He hasn’t trained yet with the ( Liverpool ) team, and it will probably be around the last week when he trains with us (fully), and he will have been out too long to play for us.
“But there is a decision between Gareth and Hendo. He would be completely fit (for the Euros), and it makes it really different to all the other English players, because he would be properly rested.”
Klopp insisted that Henderson’s injury is “completely different” to the season-long one suffered by Virgil van Dijk which has ruled the Dutchman out of the Euros, and he added:
“That means Hendo will be rested and has a proper pre-season for the Euros if everything works to plan. He is not out of that.”
Klopp was full of praise for the new generation of English talent ahead of the Reds clash with Manchester United on Thursday.
"It's a really good mix, the offensive potential they have," said Klopp.
"I don't know if you still consider - I don't know exactly, how old is Marcus Rashford? 21, 22, 23? He looks quite young, meanwhile, he is very experienced.
"But Mason Greenwood, absolutely exceptional, offensive talent.
"One of this English generation's offensive players, which is absolutely incredible if you count them all. You think, who would you want to leave out?
"Greenwood, [Phil] Foden, [Mason] Mount, [Raheem] Sterling - Sterling's not that young anymore - [Jadon] Sancho. Wow, what a generation."
