Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given his thumbs-up for James Milner’s decision to retire from international football in 2016.
The midfielder has been a full-time Red since making the difficult decision, but has been asked to re-join the England squad since opting out.
Milner spent seven years with the Three Lions’ senior side before packing it in, and Klopp reckons it’s made a great deal of sense for the club’s vice-captain.
The boss joked with reporters when asked about the midfielder’s decision to retire after 61 caps by saying “you miss him!“.
“The boys not involved on international duty have a week away from Melwood,” he’s quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo.
“But they have a proper training plan, but not football work. They have to write every day when they have a session. It makes no sense to have a session with three players and five coaches!
“That is the perfect situation for a footballer, so Milly was very smart when he made that decision. [His retirement] was a conscious decision to think of what do I have to do.
“He has made a lot of smart decisions in his life and that was just another one. For England everything is OK, and for him and us, it’s all good.”
Liverpool have certainly seen the benefits of having a fresh Milner after the international break, and his 189th appearance for the club could come against Manchester United.
With Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnadum kept busy over the international break, Klopp may very well call upon the experienced midfielder.