'Mane, Coutinho and Lallana returns are brilliant for us'
Following Sadio Mane's impressive return to action, Simon Mignolet's thoughts on the No.19 being joined in Liverpool's team by Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana after the international break can be summed up in one word.
“Brilliant,” the goalkeeper told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I think we’ve been a bit unfortunate with the injuries and the suspensions we’ve had so far this season. I think if you miss Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana at the same time, it’s never easy.”
Before he was a surprise inclusion in Jürgen Klopp’s starting line-up for Saturday’s 4-1 victory over West Ham United, a hamstring problem had prevented Mane from playing for the Reds since early October.
Of course, the Senegal forward - who laid on two assists for Mohamed Salah in a typically productive and industrious display at the London Stadium - also missed three domestic games in September due to suspension.
Coutinho, meanwhile, has been restricted to nine club appearances this season because of back and adductor issues and Lallana is yet to feature at all in 2017-18 after sustaining a thigh injury in August.
As such, Klopp has regularly been deprived of three players who scored a combined total of 35 goals last term.
But, with Mane now fit again, Mignolet is excited by the prospect of Coutinho and Lallana’s comebacks, with Klopp hopeful of being able to call on the pair following the international break.
“I think you have to deal with injuries throughout the season, you’re always going to have them, and that’s why you have a broad squad to deal with that. But if you have three of those kind of players injured at the same time, then it’s obviously a tough thing to deal with,” the Belgium international said.
“But at the same time, the squad’s stayed calm underneath it [and] I think they’ve worked their socks off as well here in Melwood to get back as soon as they could with the help of the medical team.
“Hopefully after the international break they will be pushing the rest of the squad forward by adding in the goals and giving us a bigger platform to go from.”
The Reds’ home fixture with Southampton on Saturday November 18 represents their first of 13 games scheduled to take place before January 2.
With such a hectic six weeks ahead, Mignolet is hopeful Liverpool will benefit from some better fortune in terms of players avoiding injury.
“This kind of period is demanding and therefore we will need everybody in the squad to deal with these games that will be thrown at us,” the No.22 continued.
“And if you get players like them [Mane, Coutinho and Lallana] coming back and being fresh after not playing much recently, that can give not only a boost to the team but also a boost to them individually.
“They will be raring to go and very eager to get on the pitch and score the goals they’ve wanted to because they’ve been missing out, and I’m sure they will be ready for any battle that comes ahead of them when we come back after the international break.”