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Jordan Henderson has backed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to step into the Liverpool first team on his return to fitness.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is unlikely to feature this season as he continues his rehabilitation from the devastating knee injury suffered during the Champions League semi-final win over Roma at Anfield in April.

The 25-year-old damaged his cruciate and medial ligaments in his right knee plus the tendons to his hamstring, with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp admitting it would be a “bonus” if the player features in a competitive fixture this campaign.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, a £35million signing from Arsenal in August 2017, has been making slow steps in his recovery at Melwood and recently passed a ball for the first time since surgery.

And Reds skipper Henderson is convinced his team-mate will return better than ever.

“I know he will come back stronger," he said. "When he does and he gets back into his rhythm, he’ll be straight back in.

“So, fingers crossed he keeps going the way he has been because I think he’s progressing well with his rehab.

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“Hopefully that will continue because Ox has got a big part to play whenever he is back.

“He’s a great lad and I just hope he can keep getting stronger and get back to us as soon as he can, because he’s a massive, massive player for us.”

Speaking to the official Liverpool FC magazine, Henderson added: “It’s very difficult for Ox. The great performances he was putting in before he got injured made it one of the best periods of his career so far. So to get injured for such a long time is hard to take.

“The type of lad he is, he’s very positive, very good to be around, and he’s remained like that.

"I’m sure he’ll have his moments at home and maybe here at Melwood when the lads aren’t here, but whenever I speak to him he’s always positive and he always looks good.”