Virgil van Dijk expressed his heartfelt gratitude after making a successful return to action in Liverpool’s friendly defeat to Hertha Berlin in Austria after a long-term injury.
The centre-half that many regard as one of the best in the world had surgery in November after damaging an anterior cruciate ligament in Liverpool’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Merseyside rivals Everton in October when goalkeeper Jordan Pickford executed a horrifying tackle on him.
Joe Gomez has also recovered from knee tendon surgery which he suffered while training for England before their friendly against the Republic of Ireland in November.
The 30-year-old Dutchman stepped off the bench for the final 20 minutes in Innsbruck alongside fellow substitute Gomez who was also making his return.
Van Dijk and Gomez were absent for most of last season as Liverpool lost their Premier League crown to Manchester City.
Van Dijk said on Twitter: “285 days ago, I started on a journey back towards playing. It’s hard to express how I am feeling, but it’s important to me that I say I feel blessed to have had the support of so many incredible people.
“The surgeon, my physios, coaches and staff who have been with me in my corner since day one. My teammates for giving me energy and keeping my head up. The fans for their love, support and encouragement.
“And most of all, my family because without them, I’d be nothing. Thank you. The work doesn’t stop now. It’s only just starting. We keep going!”
Van Dijk also tweeted a picture of an excerpt from the Bible pronouncing the Old Testament prophet Isaiah’s ‘path of the righteous’.