Liverpool and England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s season may be over with a knee injury, but the stricken 24-year-old is already looking to start his recovery period and has promised fans he’ll be back better than ever.
The fact that the all-action midfielder has the family of the Liverpool fan battling for his life in his thoughts at such a devastating time for him personally is commendable and he’s been lauded by all sets of fans for his gesture.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injury comes at a cruel time for the former Arsenal man had just started to come into his own for Liverpool with a series of superb performances, but disaster struck during Liverpool’s 5-2 romp over Roma in their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.
While slide-tackling Giallorossi fullback Aleksandar Kolarov, the Englishman got his leg caught under his body and was in agony even as physios raced onto the pitch to assist him.
DON’T MISS | 5 talking points from Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Despite receiving medical attention, ‘Ox’ was unable to continue playing and the fact that he was stretchered off had Liverpool and England fans fearing the worst.
Jurgen Klopp admitted in his post-match interviews that the injury looked quite bad, but the Merseyside club’s statement on Wednesday ended the midfielder’s hopes of featuring at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
After a somewhat difficult start to his Liverpool career following a £35 million move from fellow Premier League side Arsenal, ‘Ox’ had started to come good on his immense promise as the business end of the season approached.
MUST READ | Cristiano Ronaldo makes Marcus Rashford’s day with incredible gesture
With Liverpool on the verge of reaching their first UEFA Champions League final in over a decade, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s absence will be sorely felt as his dynamic style is perhaps unmatched by any of his club mates.
While a official timetable has not yet been released, he’s not expected to return to the pitch before the end of 2018.