Federico Chiesa is closing in on a Liverpool comeback after returning to full team training
Sport
Updated 17:00, 03 Dec 2024
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Federico Chiesa of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 training and press conference at AXA Melwood Training Centre
Federico Chiesa of Liverpool looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 training and press conference at AXA Melwood Training Centre
To say Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool career to date has been underwhelming would be an understatement. The Italy international joined the Reds from Juventus for an initial £10m at the end of August.
However, he hasn’t kicked a ball for Arne Slot’s side since making his full debut against West Ham United in the League Cup the following month. An unused substitute appearance against Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 28 - a month after he moved to Anfield - that remains the last time he was even named in a matchday squad.
Having suffered an ACL injury back in January 2022, eyebrows were understandably raised regarding Chiesa’s availability record when the Reds made their move for the forward.
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Yet such doubts were something Slot quickly dismissed following the Italian’s arrival. A £10m transfer fee perhaps helped overrule any potential concerns there might have been regarding his fitness regardless.
But with Chiesa having been sidelined since September, sceptics have had to bite their tongues hard if they wished to resist the temptation to say, ‘I told you so’.
Yet such a response would be unfair. After all, a slow start for the 27-year-old was to be expected. He joined Liverpool after being ostracised by Juventus, with his last action of any sorts coming as Italy exited Euro 2024 at the end of June.
Following his return from international last summer, it was swiftly made clear to the forward he was not part of Thiago Motta’s plans. Consequently, he navigated a sub-par pre-season away from his new manager’s first-team squad.
Throw in a move to both a new country and the quicker, more physical Premier League alongside playing catch-up, and Reds bosses will have been well aware that the Italian would require patience to get up to speed and adjust to the intensity.
But that perhaps hasn’t stopped the frustration at Chiesa’s ongoing absence emerging in recent weeks. His situation has certainly gathered plenty of attention back in his homeland, with Italian media frequently reporting that he is unhappy on Merseyside and could return to Serie A in January.
However, after stepping up his return by taking part in parts of team training last month, Chiesa offered a response of his own - be it deliberate or inadvertent. Posting a picture of himself smiling in training at the AXA Training Centre on social media, it was accompanied by a simple caption of a grinning face emoji.
Prior to the November international break, Slot declared that the forward would return to training during the break before being ready to link up back with the Reds first team. Yet it was only when Liverpool prepared to return to action away at Southampton that Chiesa first took part in parts of team training.
Technically, what the Dutchman said still proved to be true and was likely what he originally meant. But with Chiesa not involved against Southampton, Real Madrid or Manchester City, it has not aided his unflattering Reds narrative to date.
With Mohamed Salah in such spectacular form, Liverpool have not needed to rush his return, though. Slot would make such an admittance when explaining Alisson’s ongoing absence up against the form of Caoimhin Kelleher, with the same true of his two right-sided forwards.
But now as the Reds prepare for a run of nine fixtures in 32 days over the festive period, Chiesa could be unleashed in time for the most intense run in the English football calendar.
Slot confirmed that the forward is now back in full team training ahead of facing Newcastle United, after a gradual return over the past fortnight, telling reporters: “Federico Chiesa has had a difficult start at the club because of injuries... Another good thing is Federico is also training with us again, he is getting back.”
His return to action is rather timely as a result. And while Liverpool have seen next to nothing of the forward so far, his return will at least be celebrated in his homeland with Chiesa remaining one of Italy’s most important players when fit.
Part of the reason why the Italian media have grown anxious at his lack of action at Anfield and tipped him to return to Serie A will be their adamance of such a status.
“(Chiesa) is always monitored if he plays, he has shown us his qualities,” Italy manager Luciano Spalletti recently told Tuttosport.
He’ll now look to do the same for the Reds as he edges closer to a return. If fit enough to be selected in Slot’s matchday squad against Newcastle, he will look to make his first appearance in 70 days.
It has been easy to write off Chiesa during this difficult start, having had no opportunity to respond on the pitch. But now back in full team training, he is at an Anfield crossroads with the January transfer window on the horizon.
It is now up to Chiesa to show whether he is capable of going on enjoy a long Liverpool career, or just end up fuelling reports of a premature return to Italy further. Those of a Reds persuasion will be hoping that he has been worth the wait.