Jota takes ‘intensive’ step up as Liverpool injury lay-off receives big boost

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has now begun an ‘intensive’ programme of personal training as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.

Liverpool released photos on Wednesday (via their official website) of the Portuguese training outside after undertaking gym work.

Jota is making “good progress” after encountering his injury in December, the club said in a statement.

Liverpool added: “Under the guidance of club physio Chris Morgan, the 24-year-old undertook some gym work before taking to the outdoor pitches for some running drills.”

The Daily Mail described the step up in training as ‘intensive’. The newspaper reiterated manager Jurgen Klopp’s previous estimate that the player would return in early February.

Indeed, Jota’s latest progress suggests that he is not too far away from returning to full team training.

But he would need to come through one or two sessions with his teammates unscathed before entering Klopp’s thinking.

The manager has stressed such a benchmark with previous injuries to the likes of Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara.

Like Thiago’s injury, Jota damaged his knee in the Champions League dead rubber with Midtjylland.

Klopp: Jota has improved our front three

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Diogo Jota has improved the club's attacking options after scoring seven goals in his last seven games.

Klopp faced intense scrutiny for playing the forward, before Liverpool’s 7-0 win over Crystal Palace took some of the heat off the Liverpool boss.

However, his usual front three – as well as the whole team – then went through a barren spell. Five games without a win, including four without a goal – proved the cost of Jota’s absence.

Therefore, having him return before the end of February would be a big boost for Liverpool. The Reds play RB Leipzig on February 16, with the Champions League second leg coming in March.

Klopp‘s men also face Everton before the month is out.

Reported Villa role in failed Liverpool swoop

Meanwhile, one journalist has claimed that Aston Villa played a key role in preventing Liverpool signing a defensive target before the transfer window closed.

The Merseyside outfit showed serious interest in Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car, but a deal did not materialise.

And one reporter has claimed that Villa’s acquisition of Morgan Sanson played a key role.

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