Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius undergoes successful surgery on broken hand

Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is optimistic of a quick return after undergoing successful surgery on a broken hand.

Karius, a summer signing from Bundesliga side Mainz, was expected to immediately challenge Simon Mignolet for the no.1 spot but suffered a broken bone in his right hand during the club's preseason tour of the US following a collision with Dejan Lovren.

The £4.7m ($6, €5.6m) signing returned home early to begin his rehabilitation, with Jurgen Klopp later confirming he would be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks.

Having turned down the chance to represent Germany at the Rio 2016 Olympics in order to focus on preseason with his new club, Karius' injury was seen as a major setback but the 23-year-old struck an optimistic note in an update posted via his Twitter account on Wednesday (31 August).

"Recovering from a successful surgery. Wires are removed, from now on things can only move upwards," he wrote.

Karius is unlikely to return to action in September but could be available once again for Liverpool's trip to Swansea City on 1 October.

Liverpool have taken four points from their opening three Premier League games of the season. Mignolet saved a penalty in a hugely impressive 4-3 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on the opening day of the season before Klopp's side were brought back down to earth with a 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted Burnley.

A week later, Liverpool travelled to White Hart Lane, the scene of Klopp's first ever game in the Premier League. Despite taking the lead through a James Milner penalty, the Reds settled for a point thanks to a Danny Rose equaliser.