Alan Hansen health update issued as Graeme Souness opens up on phone calls with Liverpool legend

Graeme Souness has provided a new update on Alan Hansen's condition as the Liverpool icon continues his recovery in hospital. The 69-year-old was rushed to hospital after falling 'seriously ill' earlier this month, with Souness, who is currently in Germany covering the ongoing European Championships, keeping in regular touch with Hansen's family while abroad.

Earlier this week, he shared some positive news about the Scot after revealing that they had spoken over the phone last weekend. And following another conversation with Hansen this week, Souness has given another hopeful update as his former teammate continues to recuperate.

"I spoke to him a couple of days ago," the Liverpool legend revealed while speaking on talkSPORT. "Anyone who's met Alan Hansen knows he has a wicked sense of humor so I've had two conversations with him in the last five, six days. Both conversations were me being on the receiving end of his humor, which tells me he's on the mend."

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Earlier in the week, Souness had said of Hansen: "I spoke to him yesterday and he sounded fabulous so I hope that's him on the road to a full recovery. He's definitely back because he did nothing but tease me, so he's definitely on the mend!

"I've been speaking to his son (Adam) and Janet his wife and I've been calling his phone, his phone number. I got on the train on Sunday and I was looking for my seat and my phone rang and I could see it was Big Al. I was thinking 'Oh no, don't answer that'.

"So I sat down and got the courage to phone back and HE answered the phone. He's been in a difficult place but the way he sounded yesterday, he's back, and I hope I'm right."

Souness and Hansen were teammates at Liverpool from 1978 to 1984, a period that saw the Reds clinch five league titles, three European Cups and four League Cups.