Liverpool's Joe Gomez says injury has made him stronger
Friday 22 April 2016 13:12, UK
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez believes a season-ending knee injury just seven matches into his Anfield career has made him mentally stronger.
The 18-year-old is confident his experience will allow him to cope with the pressure of playing for the Reds in the Premier League.
Gomez started the first half-dozen games of the season as an auxiliary left-back after a £3.5m summer move from Charlton, but after just one more appearance he ruptured an anterior knee ligament on England U21 duty.
It was the first major injury of his career but he has tackled nine months on the sidelines with the same positivity he briefly showed on the pitch.
"Mentally I have learned so much over this period. Dealing with things not going your way and trying to stay positive," said Gomez.
"I had to learn how to walk again. I was in Melwood early morning [for his rehabilitation] and the players would come in and have gone before I left so it has been difficult.
"I've been working so hard but it is really worth it with the aim of getting back stronger."
Gomez is planning to work through the summer to be ready for Jurgen Klopp's first pre-season sessions.
By the time he returns, Liverpool will have at least one new recruit at centre-back, the position where he sees his long-term future, in the form of Schalke's Joel Matip.
However, he plans to embrace the challenge of competition.
"A club like Liverpool you expect to sign world-class players but players like Matip offer me more of an opportunity to learn and all I can do is take positives from it," he added.
"I doubt I'll have much time off, I think I will be at Melwood virtually the whole summer to get back in the best possible shape."
