London (AFP) – Liverpool midfielder Emre Can is in contention to face Villarreal in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg after overcoming an ankle problem, manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed.
Germany international Can was expected to be sidelined for around four weeks after spraining ankle ligaments against Borussia Dortmund on April 14, but he returned to training this week ahead of schedule.
“Emre Can is ready to return to the squad, for sure,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
Liverpool are seeking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from last week’s first leg.
They will also be without skipper Jordan Henderson, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with knee ligament damage, but Klopp said that he should be fit to play for England at Euro 2016.
“Hendo is in a good way for England,” said the German. “I’m not sure how good a way it is for Liverpool.
“He’s not been on the pitch until now. We will have to see day by day how that improvement is, so only Emre will return to the squad for this game.”
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