Gomez gets warm welcome back to Liverpool

Defender Joe Gomez’s return to training was greeted with an impromptu round of applause from his Liverpool team-mates, boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed.

The 19-year-old has not played a first team game for 12 months after suffering a knee injury last term and then developed Achilles tendinopathy in July.

Midfielder James Milner has been deployed as a makeshift left-back this season, but Gomez is closing in on a return – much to the delight of his team-mates.

“When he came back, for his first full session, the entire team broke into applause,” said Klopp.

(Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“No one had planned this, it just happened. I think this shows how he is regarded by his fellow professionals.

“Bad luck and circumstance means that my only real experience of Joe until now is his comeback from injury and his rehabilitation work. He suffered his injury in the week I joined the club and he has been fighting to get back ever since.

“We want him to concentrate on getting fit and getting sharp. We will look after this player because we believe him to be special and someone who has a big future with Liverpool.

“We believe he has all the attributes to be a top player for Liverpool.”