Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum returns to training ahead of West Brom clash at Anfield
The Dutchman has been sidelined since injuring himself against France earlier this month.
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum has returned to training after overcoming a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old Dutch international missed Monday night's (17 October) clash against Manchester United at Anfield but appears to be in contention to return against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend.
Wijnaldum has been a regular member of Jurgen Klopp's energetic Liverpool side so far this season and his absence against United was considered to be a significant blow for the Reds. Wijnaldum has not played since injuring himself while on international duty against France earlier this month – but now appears poised to return to action, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Wijnaldum joined the Merseysiders from Newcastle United during the summer transfer window and recently admitted he is still adjusting to Klopp's demands at Liverpool. The Dutchman confessed his current role is markedly different to any he has previously performed.
"[Klopp] doesn't really give a lot of jobs to players. He tells me to be free and play how I can play. But sometimes it is different," Wijnaldum told the official Liverpool website. "It depends on what the other players are doing. You have to look at the other players. For example, if Lallana goes forward and Henderson also goes, I have to stay.
"Sometimes I have to get used to it because, normally, I'm the one who goes all the time. Now, I have to also look at the other players. That's the thing that has changed the most in my way of football – that I have to look more at the other players."
Wijnaldum said, too, that he has been afforded fewer opportunities to score goals because of his new role. "It is difficult and it still is. In the teams where I played before, I was the one who was running all the time to make a goal and I came into more positions to make goals," the £25m ($32.6m) Liverpool midfielder explained.
"Now it's not so often, it's a few times in a game. But we have more players to come into that position, so more players who can score a goal. I think that's better for the team, because if you only have one player who can score goals it can be a problem. We have more players who can come into that position and have the quality to score goals. It makes it easier for the team."
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