Joe Gomez Returns to Pre-Season Training “100% Fit”

With pre-season kicking off today, Liverpool’s players who weren’t off on international duty over the summer have returned to action today, including Joe Gomez, who says he’s fully fit and ready to go after missing the bulk of last season recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“I’m 100%,” Gomez said today in an interview with LFCTV. “I feel good, I feel fit, feel sharp. I’m in a good place mentally and physically, and I just see it as a fresh start now to go again and attack this season. You don’t want to take it for granted because you enjoy your job, but it’s just nice to be on the pitch again.”

After a promising first few months at the club back in 2015 while Brendan Rodgers was still in charge, Gomez picked up an ACL injury while on duty with England’s U21s. Immediately afterwards, the club played their first game under new manager Jürgen Klopp.

It means Gomez hasn’t seen a league minute under the current Liverpool manager, though he did have three cup appearances last season while he worked to recover from his injuries. Now, though, he’s fully back. But having been sidelined for nearly two years, what comes next is a bit of a question.

Many expect that by the end of pre-season, Gomez will be heading out on loan, with the 20-year-old desperately needing games to get back on track after so long on the sidelines. For now, though, Gomez just wants to worry about starting to play football again.

“Obviously you have the bits you’re anxious about,” he added. “The running and stuff is difficult at first. But it’s all part of it and you look forward to getting out and going again. I’ve had a lot of tough periods, so it’s great to be at a place like this to just go again.”