Virgil van Dijk challenged to make Liverpool return this season to boost Euro 2020 chances

The defender has been out since October with an ACL injury but could return for the end of the season

Van Dijk faces the rest of the season on the sidelines (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk should be aiming to return to Liverpool action this season in order to be fit for Euro 2020, according to former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit.

The Dutch defender has been sidelined since October after suffering damage to his anterior cruciate ligament in Liverpool’s draw with Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said Van Dijk is “unlikely to play again this season”, adding earlier this month that does not expect the 29-year-old to be available for the rescheduled European Championships this summer.

But Gullit, who won the Euros with Holland in 1988, has urged Van Dijk to set himself the “goal” of being available to captain the national side at the tournament in June.

“I know for sure that if you saw the seriousness of the injury in the beginning, you already know that you’re not going to play a lot of games with Liverpool [this season],” Gullit told BeIN Sports.

“But you need to have a goal when you have an injury, and his goal was to at least get fit for the Euros, if it’s possible. His doctors would say that as well, is it possible.

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“Of course the club wants him at least to play a couple of matches before he does, I think in Holland we want that as well.

“I can understand that he has that goal, and I hope that he does get it. If he’s going to be fit, he doesn’t have a lot of rhythm, so it’s to be seen.

“For Holland, it’s the most important thing that he plays some matches already with Liverpool.”

Liverpool have struggled in Van Dijk’s absence this season, and the defender would be crucial to his country’s Euro ambitions this summer after qualifying for their first international tournament since the 2014 World Cup.

Van Dijk in action for the Netherlands shortly before injuring his knee in October 2020 (Getty Images)

Klopp, however, has said he is aiming for his defender to be available for the start of Liverpool’s pre-season, and has urged caution on the player’s return from knee injury.

“It’s not my decision but to be honest the information I have at the moment is that it will be unlikely,” Klopp said earlier this month on Van Dijk’s Euro chances, as well as those of England’s Joe Gomez.

“[It’s] not that I don’t let them go, because I don’t want to have to do that anyway, it is because of the extent of the injuries. We all hope they will be ready to start pre-season with us, that’s what we all hope.”