It’s been a long time coming for Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The midfielder finally made his return for the Reds against Huddersfield a full year after a sickening knee injury on Champions League duty.
And the England man admitted he wen through some ‘dark times’ as he was recovering for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Oxlade-Chamberlain came off the bench in the 5-0 thrashing of the Terriers – and even came close to scoring.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Later he took to instagram to say: “367 days later… i can’t tell you how good it feels to be back.
“Thank you to everyone who helped to get me back on the pitch, all of the staff at the club and my teammates too,” he wrote on Instagram .
“Also a big thank you to you, the fans, for supporting me in some of my darkest times as a player.
“The reception I got tonight is something I’ll remember for life. Thank you. #ynwa.”
Klopp hailed the return of ‘The Ox’ after introducing him for the final 20 minutes after all that time out.
The England star almost scored after his first couple of touches, denied by Jonas Lossl’s outstretched leg, and Klopp has revealed the moment that left him ‘heartbroken’.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, he said: “It’s brilliant and so good (to see him back). Seeing his smile after he missed the chance was heartbreaking.
(Image: PA)
“It’s been over a year now. It’s cool. It was a perfect day, nothing happened injury wise and of course I’m happy.
“He’s such a wonderful, wonderful person. Even better as a player, imagine that? He’s already a really good player but as a guy he is outstanding.
“We are so happy for him.”
