Medical expert: Elliott may be out for another ‘six weeks’ after Liverpool training reveal
Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott will treat the next “four to six weeks” as a pre-season programme before his eventual return from injury.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Elliott suffered a fracture-dislocation of his left ankle during the Reds’ 3-0 win over Leeds United last September and has not featured since.
But the 18-year-old midfielder was photographed back in first-team training by club media on Tuesday (18 January).
He was not involved as Liverpool beat Arsenal 2-0 to advance to the League Cup final last night (20 December).
Elliott could now return to competitive action in “mid to late February”, predicts Dinnery.
“Factors outside the injury itself come into the decision-making process when it comes to selection,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“We’re looking at a young player with a massive future. You have one eye on the here-and-now but you also want to protect the player for the long term.
“You need to make sure he’s going to go on and have a happy and successful career, so you don’t want to rush him back.
“He’s been out for around four months. That is pretty good going.
“There may be four to six weeks which you can treat as a mini pre-season programme.
“Then I think mid to late February isn’t out of the realms of possibility.
“That gives him enough opportunity to work with the first team. He will probably play for the under-23s just to give him a chance to be involved.“
Elliott featured in all of Liverpool’s four opening league matches in 2021-22 before his injury.
He dazzled last season on loan with Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, scoring seven times and registering 12 assists in 43 outings.
In other news, ex-manager issues verdict on Roberto Firmino quitting Liverpool in £16.6million transfer.