Klopp on Diaz fitness latest: 'He can make an impact on season remainder'
Jürgen Klopp is confident Luis Diaz can make an impact on the remainder of Liverpool’s season after confirming the forward is edging closer towards a comeback.
Diaz has been absent since sustaining a knee injury in October. A setback then suffered upon his return to training in Dubai in December required surgery, prolonging his spell on the sidelines.
However, having observed the latest rehab session on Tuesday, Klopp offered an update on the 26-year-old’s progress and outlined why he believes he’ll have a role to play before the conclusion of 2022-23.
Speaking to reporters at the AXA Training Centre, the manager said: “It’s a different situation to [when he came in] last year; he came here [and] he [had] played all of the games for Porto pretty much. Now he is out with an injury for the second time.
"I can tell you the two sessions he had with us in Dubai at the training camp it was like, 'Oh my god, how good is that?' Then he was injured again.
"When he’s back he will be really good and very impactful, of course. That's clear, [but] how quickly I don't know. We have to see, that’s the big challenge in these moments – there’s no time for being patient but you have to be patient.
"So, we will see, but I am positive about him, that he has a good chance to have a real impact in like 10, 11 or 12 games maybe. Let's see how long it exactly takes.
"I think it is estimated maybe warming up next week with the team and stuff like this and then, maybe a week later, being in team training. That would be cool.
"You always have to wait. As I said, today I saw it – a very intense session with a lot of changes of direction and stuff like this. If there is no reaction to that and he can make the next step then I think he is not too far away."