Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic could play a role in the Premier League run-in, with Jurgen Klopp praising the Serbian after his return from injury.
Grujic spent three months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem picked up in November, and has so far made just five appearances for the Reds’ first team.
It has been far from the ideal transition to life on Merseyside for the former Red Star Belgrade youth, who made the switch to Liverpool in the summer after a six-month loan at his old club.
But having now returned to training and impressed in recent appearances for the Liverpool U23s, Klopp says Grujic is back in contention.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with West Brom, Klopp revealed that, while it would take time for Grujic to find his sharpness on the pitch, he could feature in the near future.
“He’s in very good shape, but unfortunately because of injuries he’s not in a real rhythm,” he said at Melwood on Thursday.
“It looks really good football-wise, but the position he’d play in this moment is as No. 8.
“Things aren’t natural [for him] there because he hasn’t played too often [this season]. We cannot change this. That’s it.
“There would have been different scenarios when he could have played in the last three games, but we had to change things and he was not involved.
“He’s in a very good way and it’s good to have him back.”
Liverpool’s final five games after their trip to the Hawthorns come against Crystal Palace, Watford, Southampton, West Ham and Middlesbrough.
But with so much to play for as the Reds chase Champions League qualification, Klopp’s words could mean very little and be a case of the manager merely making the player feel good.
It seems unlikely Klopp will blood Grujic during such an important end to the season.
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