Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has issued an update on his current injury status, but doubts linger about the centre-back’s future role at the club.
The strapping centre-back last featured for the Reds during their 1-0 Capital One Cup semi-final first leg victory over Stoke City, and was one of several casualties in the match, with another being his central defensive partner on the night, Kolo Toure.
While Toure’s now back in action, Lovren faces a couple more weeks on the sidelines, and while Liverpool’s injury list—which totalled 13 players at one point—is gradually reducing, Lovren is yet to return to training.
“I’m very satisfied with my injury, it’s going really quickly again,” the former Southampton man told the club’s official website.
“I cannot say exactly but I’ll be back soon, hopefully this week. We will not take a risk for one or two games. We still need time, but I’m coming back,” he continued.
“[There are] so many games and, unfortunately, so many injuries also. The Premier League is so tough but we have a good squad, a big squad and a new player in, so it’s good.”
However, it remains to be seen whether Lovren will definitely have a first-team spot to go back to when he does eventually return to full fitness.
Since the transfer window began, Liverpool have been boosted by two new central-defensive options; one is Anglo-Nigerian defender Tiago Ilori, who returned from his miserable loan spell at Aston Villa, while the other is Steven Caulker, signed on loan from Queens Park Rangers.
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The duo—as well as fit-again Mamadou Sakho and the aforementioned Toure—face considerable competition for Lovren, who has largely failed to convince since signing from Southampton, while Martin Skrel is another option for Jurgen Klopp.
Indeed, the German manager has also been tipped to return to the Bundesliga for defensive reinforcements—such as Schalke 04’s Joel Matip and former protégé Neven Subotic—meaning that Lovren may return only to find himself surplus to requirements.