Joe Gomez to Undergo Surgery for Ankle Fracture

The defender will undergo a procedure in an attempt to speed his recovery with a March return possible.

Initially, Joe Gomez had been meant to be back in training by the start of February at the latest, with his fractured ankle suffered against Burnley at the start of December not meant to keep the young defender sidelined for longer than six to eight weeks.

Today, though, not only is Gomez still out, but it’s been confirmed by the club that the 21-year-old will undergo a surgery on that ankle. This, it would appear, is being undertaken in response to the injury having taken longer to heal than was first expected.

“It’s a blow for the boy and for us,” Jürgen Klopp acknowledged. “Prior to the injury he was in such fantastic shape. But he is too valuable to take any risk with, both for our present and future, so we get this procedure done and he comes back when he’s ready.”

According to The Mirror’s David Maddock, the surgery will not negatively impact Gomez’ return—in fact, it could move it up—and while the club have not set a date in stone, optimistically it is believed the player could be back in training by the start of March.

Given that, optimistically, Gomez’ earliest return will come a full month later than what had previously been expected, none of this is especially good news. Still, it’s better perhaps than many would imagine when faced with news of Gomez being set for surgery.

In more positive news, Trent Alexander-Arnold has begun to work towards his own return to action and, while he will not be involved against West Ham tonight, he could be in the lineup to face Bournemouth on Saturday.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com