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There are not enough nice stories in football, nowadays.

Blasted this, speaks out that. Refereeing controversy, managerial meltdowns and transfer tittle-tattle, all with a side of snide.

Then, of course, the injuries. Just ask Danny Ings how even a positive tale can turn into a nightmare once again with one attempted tackle.

In such times, maybe the good news should be savoured, appreciated; relished, even. Instead of focusing on the horrors of firings and loss of form, picking off the carcasses upon the scrapheap, perhaps the genuine feel-good stories deserve our proper attention.

Like the story of a teenager who had his big chance ripped from him, with one innocuous tussle near the corner flag, at the most inopportune time.

Joe Gomez had to sit on the sidelines after his maiden season at Anfield went wrong; he had to watch from afar as a new manager, with a reputation of improving players to unfathomable levels, worked his magic and directed a directionless club into two cup finals.

Make no mistake, Gomez could have been starting at Wembley against Manchester City, or maybe even in the Europa League final.

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Klopp liked him, had monitored him at Charlton Athletic, and was keen to take him to Borussia Dortmund in his final summer there. Despite starting his career on Merseyside as a left back under Brendan Rodgers, the German boss was thought to be an advocate of Gomez playing centre back.

There was even a suggestion Klopp was contemplating handing Gomez a start at the heart of defence in his first game in charge at Tottenham.

Consider the centre-back partnerships that saw out the two finals, too. Lucas Leiva and Kolo Toure performed admirably against Sergio Aguero, David Silva and friends, but one was a veteran, the other a midfielder. In Basel, against Sevilla, there is nothing to suggest the exuberance of Gomez wouldn’t have ousted the experience of Toure to partner Dejan Lovren.

How frustrated Gomez must have felt watching that from afar; how frustrated, in general, that the past 13 months have been spent recovering from the knee injury sustained against Kazakhstan Under-21s, rather than learning, improving, under Klopp.

All the clichés about his return – first to first team training at Melwood, and then to actual action, against Accrington, in Sunday’s behind closed doors friendly – are true. It has been a long road for the defender, it has been a testing time.

But he has come out of the other side of it, and – another cliché incoming – he will be all the stronger for it.

He is a popular character in the Liverpool dressing room and is said to be a diligent, hard-working young man. Recently, Jordan Henderson praised him for his contribution to training, hailing his selflessness as he worked to regain fitness. The reception he received upon his return to full training at Melwood – an ovation from his team-mates – suggests as much about him as it does team spirit under Klopp.

That is why this is a nice story. Gomez’s 45-minute return against Accrington, playing the full second half in the 6-0 win, feels good. He deserves it.

This is not where it ends, either. He still must make a competitive appearance; after that, he has to establish himself as a squad member under Klopp. Recent events with Ings highlight how nothing should be taken for granted, and how every narrative can still veer in an unwanted direction.

Yet Gomez will be a short price to do that. Before his injury, he was one of the bright points of what was threatening to become a dismal campaign; his injury soon became a dismal point of a bright season under Klopp.

In what could be one of the brightest seasons in recent times, Gomez’s return could help add that extra little sparkle. When he returns, he will not do so because of compassion or sympathy, but because he is capable of adding something to the Liverpool defence.

He emerged against Accrington as a centre-back and would, surely, vie with Lucas and Ragnar Klavan for the right to deputise on the bench for the first-choice partnership.

His stint at full back also bodes well. James Milner has been a revelation at left back; as a right-footer, he opens up the pitch on his stronger side, and defends well against inverted wingers who cut in on their stronger side.

What should be an imbalance gives Liverpool a balance in defence, and possibly gives Gomez another position to feature in.

Whatever he does, in whichever position, this is a rare nice story in football.

No story is complete, of course. Gomez could have another 15, 20 years to continue adding to it at the highest level.

Nothing is certain in football, though.

Take the small victories - and the big - and reflect upon the boy who has worked harder than anybody for his second chance at Anfield.

Showing the commitment and desire to come back from such a setback is very much a big victory. He sure has the talent to help his side to a few of those over the next few years, as well.