Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott delighted fans this week by posting footage of him taking part in team training on social media. The 18-year-old has been out since September, having suffered a serious ankle injury in the Premier League game against Leeds United.
Despite his tender age, Elliott appears to be a big part in Jurgen Klopp’s plans. The Surrey-born midfielder started three of the first four games of the season in central midfield.
Goal.com’s Neil Jones has witnessed Elliott’s return to training at the AXA Training Centre. On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, he gave us the low down on when we can expect to see Harvey take to the field again.
Neil said:
“He won’t be in the squad against Arsenal. I don’t think he will be on the bench at Palace either. You’ve got to be fair to the lad, he’ll be dying to play. I think if you said to Harvey, ‘Look, can you give us 70?’ [against Arsenal] I’m pretty sure he would say ‘absolutely’.
There will be a gradual process. It’s a long time out, it was a bad injury. Pep [Ljinders] said he has not lost any of his football brain, obviously his touch is there. There’s a difference isn’t there? When a big centre back is coming in to fly in, you have got a little bit of a psychological thing. Do you lag after an hour? I think they will be very careful with him.
They were saying Thiago will be back for the Cardiff game, Keita should be back from the AFCON at that point. Hopefully Ox back as well for the weekend. It’s not a case of ‘we’ve only got two midfielders, we’re going to have to take a risk with him’, there’s not that pressure on to get him straight back into the side. What a boost it will be to have him back.”
Redmen Reacts
There are high hopes for Harvey at LFC. He did not look out of place on the Anfield turf in some early appearances at the age of just 16. His return should boost Liverpool’s midfield or attacking options. Initially appearing on the right of the front three, could Elliott potentially deputise for Mo Salah in that position?
He certainly has the talent on the ball to replicate some of the threat posed by Mo. Alternatively, if Jurgen sees him solely as a central midfielder, he can provide a creative threat for a midfield that has occasionally lacked spark. A lack of creativity in midfield was in evidence in last week’s 0-0 draw against ten-man Arsenal.
Hopefully the young man can kick on and become a great player for the Reds. If he reaches his full potential, he could become the future of Liverpool’s midfield, alongside local lad Curtis Jones. Good to have you back, Harvey.
