Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is desperate to nail down a first-team spot.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has put in extra hours at training in the international break to try and impress and bolster his first-team chances.
The Reds splashed the cash to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017, handing him a huge £120,000-a-week contract (Spotrac), but just as he was really hitting top form, he suffered a major knee injury in April 2018.
That kept him out for around a year, but he came back to face Huddersfield Town in April of this year, featuring the 5-0 win as fans had renewed hope that he would resume a prominent role this season.
However, Oxlade-Chamberlain has started just twice in the Premier League this season, making an additional three substitute appearances, with the 26-year-old struggling to nail down a role.
In fairness, Liverpool’s midfield has been very consistent this season. Fabinho has starred in holding midfield, whilst Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and James Milner have been reliable.
Now, the Echo claim that Oxlade-Chamberlain may have played against Leicester City before the international break had he not suffered a freak head injury, but he’s responded well.
It’s claimed that, with Oxlade-Chamberlain missing out on a spot in the England squad, he chose to put in extra hours at Melwood, working hard in training to try and prove himself to Jurgen Klopp.
A starting role against Manchester United on Sunday seems unlikely, but the midfield is putting in the hard yards to get in the team – and as the most attack-minded of Liverpool’s midfield options, he should get chances yet.
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