One Liverpool midfielder has finally made his return from injury.
Fitness issues have played a major role in shaping Liverpool’s season. While the total number of injuries hasn’t been excessive, the real problem has been their severity, with several key players sidelined for months, or even close to a full year.
Arne Slot has been forced to navigate repeated setbacks, making it difficult to consistently name his strongest XI, especially in attacking areas.
Right now, Hugo Ekitike remains out for the foreseeable future, leaving Alexander Isak to carry much of the goalscoring burden.
The young French forward has stepped up well in Isak’s absence, but the pressure of leading the line has understandably begun to show.
Slot’s challenge is compounded by a lack of reliable alternatives capable of operating as a central striker.
And that’s without factoring in the long-term absences of Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, and Wataru Endo, all of whom are ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Liverpool’s campaign might have looked very different had Slot been able to call upon a fully fit squad and rotate his options more effectively. The lack of depth, particularly during key moments in the season, has made an already demanding schedule even tougher to navigate.
What makes the situation more concerning is that injury problems haven’t been limited to the senior side, they’ve also hit the academy hard. Several promising young players have seen their development disrupted at crucial stages.
Jayden Danns, for instance, has endured another stop-start season dominated by time on the sidelines. Wellity Lucky suffered a serious setback just as he was beginning to edge closer to first-team involvement, halting his momentum at the worst possible time.
Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic has missed the entire campaign, focusing on recovery and rehabilitation rather than building on his early promise.
Amid all of this, there is at least some positive news.
James McConnell has now returned to action, taking an important step forward in his recovery. His comeback offers a timely boost, not just in terms of numbers, but also as a reminder that reinforcements, albeit from within, are finally on the way.
McConnell made a strong impression on Slot during the Dutchman’s first season at Anfield. The Liverpool boss regularly included the former Sunderland AFC academy player in matchday squads, with most of his minutes coming in cup competitions.
Jurgen Klopp was also a big admirer of the Liverpool youngster, even playing him in the League Cup final at Wembley.
Over the summer, McConnell committed his future by signing a new long-term deal before joining AFC Ajax on loan, where he linked up with John Heitinga.
However, his spell in the Netherlands was cut short in February, as injury forced a return to Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre.
But he's now finally back, and stepping up his recovery process.
McConnell has played two games in the last week - both friendlies for the Reds' U21 side.
Lewis Bower reported that he featured in a 6-0 win for Liverpool's reserve team, racking up 45 minutes under his belt.