Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike could return from Achilles injury in six months
Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike could return from a ruptured Achilles in just six months following successful surgery, according to former Premier League forward Clinton Morrison.
The France international sustained the severe injury during a recent Champions League clash against Paris St-Germain.
While a full recovery from such trauma typically takes up to nine months, Morrison believes the 23-year-old could be back on the pitch well before January.
“Just stay strong. Stay positive. Have good people around you. And in this day and age with all the medical technology available, it could be six or seven months.”
Clinton Morrison
World Cup heartbreak and the road to recovery
Despite the optimistic timeframe for his club return, any lingering hopes of representing Les Bleus at the upcoming World Cup are completely extinguished.
The prolific attacker had established himself as a certainty for Didier Deschamps’ national squad after registering three goal contributions in his last six appearances.
Following his operation, the former PSG prospect took to social media to reassure supporters.
“I’m out of here, I’ll be back soon,” he posted on Instagram.
Morrison warned that the mental toll of missing a major international tournament will be significant for the young forward.
“He’s young – you heal quicker when you’re young, but yeah, there’ll be dark places,” Morrison added. “Watching the World Cup will hurt him.”
Attacking reshuffle for Slot’s side
Manager Arne Slot must now reconfigure his frontline, with team-mate Alexander Isak expected to shoulder greater attacking responsibilities despite enduring his own fitness issues this season.
Dutch international Cody Gakpo is also anticipated to feature more prominently, potentially creating an opportunity for highly-rated youngster Rio Ngumoha to step into the senior setup.
The Merseyside outfit recently secured a vital 2-1 victory over local rivals Everton, courtesy of a vintage Mohamed Salah strike, to strengthen their grip on a top-four finish.
A crucial home fixture against Crystal Palace awaits this weekend, where a victory would provide crucial breathing room ahead of the chasing pack.
