Harvey Elliott is still yet to return from the sidelines after he suffered a serious ankle injury against Leeds United.
At first viewing, it looked like the young Liverpool star had broken his ankle but it was just an ankle dislocation that damaged ligaments.
The injury came at such an inopportune time as the 18-year-old was settling into the starting XI quite nicely and was forming a very fluid partnership with Trent Alexand-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.
It felt like Liverpool were playing with three right-wingers and it allowed them to overload that side of the pitch and bombard teams with quality delivery while Mo Salah did his thing on the ball.
Elliott sends three-word return update as outside training ramps up
Posting on Instagram, the teenager said: ‘Not long now…’
Jurgen Klopp certainly won’t want to rush him back but he could feature this month and it would help alleviate the absence of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, who will leave for AFCON along with Naby Keita after full-time this evening.
Elliott, who has been sidelined for 111 days and has missed a total of 26 games this season, has an incredibly bright future and so Liverpool will be desperate to get his injury recovery spot on.
He’s at such an important stage of his career that any setbacks could have lasting effects and the Reds’ medical staff will be well aware of the dangers at play.
Jurgen Klopp knows what a gem he’s got in Harvey Elliott
When you go back and watch the games he played in earlier this season, it’s quite difficult to believe that he’s only 18.
After final pre-season game of the summer against Athletic Bilbao, Klopp praised the young star by saying: “He brings a different dimension into the game, dribbling, top passing range. He played a top pre-season. You have to keep these spaces open for these sensational young talents.
“We need to show that we are a club that gives these kinds of opportunities to these boys.”
Last season, he scored 7 goals and assisted 12 for Blackburn Rovers but his ability to play a simple game and do the basics close to perfect consistently meant he wasn’t sent out on loan again.
