Twelve months ago, a re-energised Virgil van Dijk knew a big decision in his career was on the horizon.
The Liverpool defender had just spent the best part of two months in Dubai working to a tailored fitness regime at the world-renowned Nad al Sheba Complex.
Yoga sessions, exercise bikes and strength and conditioning workouts all formed part of the routine before the £75million centre-back stepped up his recovery with some ball work out in the Middle East with his personal coaches.
It was the ideal chance for the defender to up his rehabilitation plan, away from the glare of the daily media updates in England with Liverpool wary of Van Dijk 's training unhelpfully staying atop of the weekly news cycle during his lengthy convalescence.
His down-time out in Dubai, where COVID-19 laws were less restrictive, allowed Van Dijk to visit the likes of the Nusr-Et Steakhouse, which is owned by Nusret 'Salt Bae' Gokce and located in the Restaurant Village of the Four Seasons Resort.
But after returning to Merseyside to boost his recovery further at Liverpool 's AXA Training Centre in Kirkby in mid-February it was still unclear - from the outside, at least - as to just how far along he was in his aims to get back on the pitch.
PAUL GORST: Liverpool know the word Jurgen Klopp does not want mentioning
IAN DOYLE: Mohamed Salah warning clear as Fabinho does something rare
JURGEN KLOPP: Liverpool boss sends message to Alexis Sanchez after red card
Questions over a shock end-of-season return were floated as Klopp refused to rule anything out, definitively.
The big decision that confronted Van Dijk was whether or not to declare himself fit for the then upcoming European Championships.
Skippering the Netherlands at the Euros would have been one of the proudest moments of his career for an injury-free Van Dijk and Klopp was stepping lightly when the topic was brought up.
“It is not my decision but to be honest the information I have at the moment is that it will be unlikely,” said Klopp 12 months ago.
“So [it’s] not that I don’t let them go, because I don’t want to have to do that anyway, it is because of the extent of the injuries.
“We all hope they will be ready to start pre-season with us, that’s what we all hope."
By mid-May, though, Van Dijk had reached a conclusion after what were no doubt lengthy conversations with the pertinent people for both club and country.
He said: “In this latest stage for myself, I have come to a decision that I had to make: would I be involved in the Euros, yes or no?
"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."
*RATE THE LIVERPOOL PLAYERS AGAINST INTER MILAN:
A year on from when the Dutchman started to wrestle with the conundrum, it would seem to have been the right one.
Rather than immediately return to action in the competitive forum of a European Championships as Oranje captain in June, Van Dijk's gentle comeback arrived in the low-key surroundings of Evian.
Arriving as a 69th substitute with fellow long-term injury absentee Joe Gomez, Van Dijk played a little over 20 minutes of a friendly with Hertha Berlin on July 29.
The club were keen to reward his work with a new contract over the summer and it was also a big show of faith in Van Dijk from Liverpool that they believed he would return to those pre-injury levels when he was widely viewed as the preeminent centre-back of English football.
"It's unbelievable and I am enjoying every bit," he says. "My family is enjoying it so that is obviously a big reason why I signed a new deal, because I just want to keep on enjoying things and appreciate everything I have."
Slowly but surely the dials were turned up on the defender's recovery as he eventually re-established himself as one of the planet's very best.
But some 17 months after the talismanic centre-half ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament after a shocking challenge by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, he was opening up on just how he felt his re-ascension was being viewed dismissively.
"I felt a little bit taken for granted at times," he admitted on the eve of the Carabao Cup final to the Daily Mail. "Like people were acting as if nothing had happened and everything was normal."
"Not that I’m insecure and need to have confirmation all the time, not at all.
"But I felt like coming back from an ACL/MCL (anterior or medial cruciate ligament) injury and playing the amount of games I have played so far, playing three games a week, it is quite good and should not be overlooked. And it was overlooked in my opinion."
The comments were somewhat out of character for a player whose calmness off the pitch is as notable as the playing style that characterises the famous Kop anthem about their No.4
Van Dijk's return to action has been a huge part behind Liverpool's renewed New Year surge for multiple honours.
A seven-game winning run in the Premier League has seen them concede just twice with the former Southampton star expertly marshalling the defence to keep its trademark high line at all times.
With Van Dijk viewed as the high value insurance policy at the back, Liverpool have been able to push on both in games and in the season to keep themselves on track for what would be an unprecedented quadruple.
He adds in an interview with Liverpool's pre-match programme: "After the injury last year and where I am today, after how I was last year, I am very proud of myself [with] the number of games I have played.
"Things can obviously still improve but I'm very content."
If there is one thing that Van Dijk's injury has shown, however, it is that he is not invincible, despite spending most of the previous three years at Anfield appearing so.
It thrust into view some themes around the mortality of Van Dijk's career and while the new deal will keep him at the club until 2025, he will not go on forever.
While the likes of Thiago Silva and Giorgio Chiellini have proven as recently as last season that centre-backs in their mid-30s can still play starring roles to win top honours, Van Dijk is acutely aware of the need to savour the here and now during these heady days at Anfield.
He says: "I think even before the injury I appreciated [playing in cup finals] so much. I am not the youngest anymore - definitely not the oldest!
"But times are flying past and I just want to go out there and enjoy it and enjoy my team-mates, where I am today, playing for Liverpool."
