This article is part of Football FanCast’s Injury News series, which considers the impact of the latest updates on players’ fitness.
In a boost to Liverpool, Xherdan Shaqiri has returned to full training with the first-team squad.
What’s the story?
The 80-time Switzerland international has been struggling with a calf injury that has forced him onto the sidelines since September.
Fortunately, though, the former Bayern Munich and Internazionale man has been pictured in full training with his teammates at Melwood, which comes at the perfect time.
The perfect rest for Salah
So far this campaign, Mohamed Salah has been a mainstay in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI. In the Premier League and Champions League, he has started all but one match, and he has continued to bang in the goals, scoring nine in his first 17 matches.
However, the Egypt international has been struggling with an injury ever since Hamza Choudhury’s tackle in the Reds’ clash against Leicester. He didn’t feature at all against Manchester United, but he still played against Aston Villa the following week even though Klopp had admitted he was struggling. More recently, he pulled out of the Pharaohs’ latest two fixtures to try and recover.
There has been a distinct lack of available options on that flank, hence why the 27-year-old has played so much football. Divock Origi has featured on the left-wing a couple of times this campaign, but not on the right, whilst the former Borussia Dortmund manager appears to prefer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in central midfield.
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Shaqiri’s return, therefore, comes at the perfect time considering the Christmas period is fast approaching. The £22.5m-valued 28-year-old – as per Transfermarkt – is a natural right-winger, and impressed last season when he was given the opportunity to do so.
In 30 matches, he scored six goals and provided five assists in all competitions, including a brace against Manchester United. Whilst he does not have the same ability as Salah, he is a dangerous player with bags of experience and a trophy cabinet to match.
If Liverpool are to win the league this season, they will need all the help they can get. Having Shaqiri back in the squad, therefore, gives Klopp another option that could allow him to keep his players as fresh as possible.
