A Dutch surgeon has warned Virgil van Dijk is likely to break down with another injury if he features for Netherlands at EURO 2020 this summer
Van Dijk has been on sidelines since injuring his ACL in October and despite seemingly making good progress in his recovery, Jurgen Klopp has admitted he is unlikely to return before pre-season.
But as Netherlands captain, it's understandable why the Liverpool centre-back hope he could be fit to return in time to play at EURO 2020.
Dutch broadcaster NOS, quoted by Sport Witness , spoke to surgeon Bas Pijnenburg about Van Dijk's injury and he didn't give them the positive answer they were hoping for regarding a swift return.
“A considerable risk. It takes just as long for a top athlete to recover as it does for any other person," he said.
"What makes it dangerous is that a knee can quickly feel good for a top athlete.The muscles and coordination may already be good, but recovery is still in full swing.
"Starting too early would also send a bad signal to other people who have had this surgery."
The surgeon also told NOS that a knee is in most danger of a new injury around six months after the surgery, and full recovery is only a year to a year and a half after the injury.