ON THE VERG Virgil van Dijk posts fresh images of his comeback bid as Jurgen Klopp gives encouraging update

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk appears to be making remarkably quick progress in his recovery from a cruciate knee ligament injury, with manager Jurgen Klopp offering an upbeat assessment of his comeback bid.

Van Dijk has been out of action since injuring knee ligaments in last October's Merseyside derby at Everton, with most medical experts suggesting he will not make a return to action this season.

Yet after Holland boss Frank De Boer confirmed Van Dijk was expecting to be fit for this summer's European Championship finals, there is a growing expectation that the centre-back could make a comeback quicker than expected.

After posting a video on his Instagram page showing him working with a ball on a training pitch last weekend, a bulked up Van Dijk has now served up some images of him working towards his return.

Liverpool boss Klopp gave his verdict on Van Dijk's progress and while he did not put a date on a possible return, he is clearly encouraged by his progress.

"I don't know what is possible and what is not possible. I don't think I'm the right person to judge that 100 per cent," he said.

"He looks really good. I spoke to him this morning, I had him on the phone – he is in a really good mood. So it's all very promising. But I don’t know when he will be back.

"There are for sure a lot of stages still to go over or pass or whatever. That's clear. I had this injury myself.

"For the time we are in and for how long he is out now, how long the rehabilitation is going on, he looks really, really promising."

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Online Editors