Liverpool’s Flanagan set to return after 19 months injury

Jon Flanagan will take an important step in his bid to return to the Liverpool first team on Monday, when he lines up for their Under 21 side against Fleetwood Town.

Flanagan has not played for Liverpool since their 2-1 victory against Newcastle in May 2014, with his last appearance an England friendly against Ecuador, due to two operations on his left knee.

The 22-year-old has been injured for 19 months, first having surgery in September 2014 after being troubled by fluid on his knee, before a second procedure in April 2015 to repair cartilage.

Flanagan was handed a one-year contract extension by Liverpool in May as he recovered from the latter operation and, having been given the nod to build up his comeback, will hope to convince Jurgen Klopp he is worthy of a new deal.

Flanagan can negotiate with non-English sides from January.

The Liverpool-born defender established himself as a regular starter in the side under Brendan Rodgers which finished second in the Premier League.

He was deployed at left-back under Rodgers, despite being renowned as a right-sided defender before impressing on the opposite flank.

Flanagan played 23 Premier League games that season, scoring once in Liverpool’s 5-0 victory against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Culled from Dailymail.co.uk