Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has praised manager Jurgen Klopp for the support that he has given him during injury woes.
A matter of days after the German coach was appointed as Brendan Rodgers's successor in October 2015, Gomez damaged his anterior cruciate ligament.
The injury kept the England Under-21 international on the sidelines for over a year, eventually making his way back into the squad in January.
With the defender now fully fit, Klopp has started the 20-year-old in four Premier League games and used him as a substitute in one other this season so far.
"He has been great for someone like me going through an injury like that and then coming back. For him to be able to bed me in and speak to me at the same time has been ideal, and it's made it a lot easier for me in comparison to how it could have been," Gomez told LFC Magazine.
"He did his ACL previously, so there was that similarity in that he understands what it's like to go through something like that and also know that when you come back things might not be quite the same. He understood the procedure and what was going on.
"With him I think it's about the individual connection - it's more than just about speaking to you as manager-to-player. There's an emotional connection there and it makes you want to play for him and for the club.
"He takes time out for you and I think he's aware of everyone's feelings. He's able to assess how people are feeling and is able to speak to them like normal people."
Liverpool will resume their league campaign with a clash against arch rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
Danielle Joynson
