Klopp offers Henderson hope in Euro fitness race

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has offered Jordan Henderson a glimmer of hope as the England midfielder tries to recover from a serious knee injury in time for Euro 2016.

It was feared Reds captain Henderson had no chance of making the tournament in France after he sustained a knee ligament injury during Liverpool’s Europa League draw at Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.

The 25-year-old had a scan on Friday and, although the injury does not require surgery, it was estimated he would be sidelined for between six and eight weeks.

That would rule Henderson out of the remainder of Liverpool’s season and almost certainly end his Euro 2016 chances, with boss Roy Hodgson naming his squad on May 12 and England’s opening match taking place on June 11.

However, Klopp says it is too early to rule out Henderson because he could even play for Liverpool again this season.

“It is serious, but it’s not that serious that there’s no hope for us for maybe the last one or two games, and of course there’s hope for the European Championships,” Klopp told reporters on Saturday.

“For us he’s a very, very important player, getting better and better and better, and obviously he’s been playing for England too.

“So that’s not a final judgement or whatever that you can say, ‘No, there’s no chance’. There is a chance.

“We will do everything for him, for us, that he’s back in the race as soon as possible. That’s it, I can’t say more. We also have to wait for how each day and see how he does.”