AFC Bournemouth‘s Justin Kluivert last featured for the Premier League side on January 3rd in their 3-2 defeat to Arsenal.
He has been out of action since then with a knee injury and underwent surgery the same month.
At the start of this year, the Bournemouth star confirmed it wasn’t a cruciate injury and the surgery went well.
The Netherlands international also said he remains hopeful of making it World Cup in the summer.
He hasn’t returned to the pitch with the Cherries since the setback in January.
Positive injury updates from Bournemouth man
ESPN NL had a chat with Justin Kluivert to discuss his recovery process, when he could regain full fitness and his chances of making it to the World Cup.
The 26-year-old provides a positive update on his rehabilitation, after going under the knife in January.
“I received the good news that it is healing very well. They are very satisfied with what they see. They don’t see that often with an injury like this. We are very happy about that,” he said.
Justin Kluivert training outdoors
As part of the recovery process, the Dutchman has already started training outdoors at Bournemouth. He remains hopeful of featuring for Andoni Iraola’s side in the next few weeks.
“I have been training outdoors alone for a little over two weeks now. That will certainly continue for another two weeks. We need to move up the ranks, and then it’s back to the team,” Kluivert explained.
“Then you just need to have a good month of May and show [Ronald] Koeman that you are ready. I sent him a message myself with an update after the good news.”
The Bournemouth man remains doubtful of playing the full 90 minutes in every group stage fixture of the World Cup.
“Do you want me to play four full matches? I can’t guarantee that,” he added.
“Do you want a fit Justin, who perhaps still needs to sharpen his fitness? Then he will be there. I say: you know what you have in me. I don’t see myself as a player who needs months to get into a rhythm. You can always count on me.”
Bournemouth’s remaining Premier League fixtures
The attacking midfielder has two goals from 19 matches for the Cherries this season.
Bournemouth have six more league matches left this season. The remaining fixtures are as follows:
- v Newcastle United [away] on April 18th
- v Leeds United [home] on April 22nd
- v Crystal Palace [home] on May 2nd
- v Fulham [away] on May 9th
- v Manchester City [home] TBD
- v Nottingham Forest [away] on May 24th
