Virgil van Dijk says he has taken the decision not to involve himself for Holland at this summer’s Euros.
The Dutch defender has been out of action since October when a reckless tackle by Everton’s Jordan Pickford led to a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee that required surgery.
Van Dijk’s rehabilitation remains on course and he posted a video of himself running on the training ground towards the end of April as he continued his recovery.
However, he believes that missing the Euros is the ‘right decision in the grand scheme of things’ and will instead focus on completing his recovery to be ready for pre-season.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official club website, Van Dijk said: ‘With everything that is going on, I feel physically it is the right decision that I’ve decided not to go to the Euros and to go into my last phase of rehab during the off-season.
‘So, the full focus will be on pre-season with the club and that’s a realistic goal, so I am looking forward to that.
‘Obviously I am very gutted to miss the Euros, to miss the European Championship and leading out my own country there, but things have been like they have and I have to accept it – we all have to accept it.
‘I think the decision to not go is the right decision in the grand scheme of things. It’s tough, but I’m at peace with it.’
The 29-year-old is Holland’s captain but Jurgen Klopp recently said it would be too risky for Holland to select him for the rearranged Euro 2020 tournament, which begins on June 11.
The Liverpool manager said: ‘I don’t want to hold Virgil back but you can’t force it as well. You are all long enough in the business to know that if you want to play you have to train before – and proper football training.
‘It takes weeks. Not a week before. You cannot be 10 or 11 months out, train for one week and then play football. That is not possible, it should not be possible.’