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Emre Can has claimed he has been playing through the pain barrier for the past EIGHT months at Liverpool.

The German midfielder has endured a mixed season at Anfield, with questions being asked over his future after talks over a new contract stalled.

The 23-year-old’s current deal expires next summer, with an impasse currently reached between club and player.

But his manager, Jurgen Klopp, has recently spoken of his hope Can will stay on Merseyside, with his recent performances helping his side towards Champions League qualification.

And after his good form was capped with a stunning bicycle kick against Watford, the only goal in the win at Vicarage Road, Can has revealed his upturn in form has coincided with finding full fitness for the first time this season.

Klopp himself has suggested the former Leverkusen man has been struggling with a calf injury for a fair portion of the campaign, and now the player believes it has hindered him for the entire season.

“It is very nice, a good feeling for every professional to be without pain,” Can reportedly told German newspaper Bild. “The first seven, eight months were very difficult for me because I always dragged the calf injury.

“It was only in the last four or five games that I was able to play free.”

“I’d take the joy of being free of pain, over the fact that I have a dream goal.”

Back in February, Klopp detailed how Can’s calf complaint was affecting his season.

Emre has for the first time had no problems with his calves,” Klopp said.

“We need him. In different parts of the game he is really consistent for us, and Chelsea (the 1-1 draw at Anfield) was his best game for a few weeks, that is for sure.

“He has this calf issue which we are still looking into and trying to find out why. Is it his back? Is it his ankle?

“It lets him stay on the pitch but it makes him struggle a little bit. We could have said ‘stay off for two or three weeks’, but we don’t have a lot of options.

“We’ve tried to work on this while he is playing. It would be nice if we have now found the exact reason and the solution. Everyone could see the difference when he’s able to play without issues.”