Injuries can flip the career of any footballer upside down, but one Liverpool prospect has told the Reds he is now back after close to a year on the sidelines
Connor O'Neill and Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist
12:48, 14 Jan 2026
Calum Scanlon leaves the field after suffering an injury during Millwall's clash against Luton Town last season
View 2 Images
One Liverpool player suffered a horrendous injury while on loan last season(Image: Getty Images)
Calum Scanlon marked his comeback from injury as Liverpool under-21s secured a 1-1 draw with Wrexham in a friendly match on Tuesday afternoon.
The defender sustained what was termed a "really bad hamstring injury" whilst on loan at Millwall last season. He was immediately recalled to the Premier League reigning champions for surgery before beginning his recovery process.
Following almost a year on the side-lines, Scanlon completed the opening 45 minutes against the Sky Bet Championship outfit at the Academy. While it was not the victory the young Merseysiders would have been looking for, his return was a huge positive for the club.
Trent Kone-Doherty broke the deadlock after just 13 minutes, but a Wrexham team featuring Conor Coady and Paul Mullin levelled matters on the half-hour mark through Alex Moore.
Posting on Instagram following the match, Scanlon, who penned a fresh, extended deal with Liverpool in April 2024, said he is happy to put the injury behind him. He wrote: "353 days. It's been a while but I'm finally back, thank you Lord."
Current and former Liverpool stars were swift to respond to the message, with the likes of Bobby Clark, James McConnell, Kone-Doherty, Isaac Mabaya, Luke Chambers and Rio Ngumoha all commenting with various emojis
Scanlon's injury halted what had been a promising looking loan spell at the Den last year. Discussing the injury sustained by Scanlon, Millwall boss Alex Neil disclosed at the time: "Unfortunately Calum's got a really bad hamstring injury.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
"He required surgery, which he already had and I believe everything went successfully, but that will rule him out for basically sixteen weeks, which takes him to the end of the season. So he'll go back to Liverpool.
"We're naturally upset for him. Obviously disappointed for ourselves because it means that we've got a really strong, dynamic and talented young player unavailable for us.
"But it's sort of the nature of the game – injuries are a big part of the game at the moment because it's so athletically based in terms of having to get up and down the pitch.
Calum Scanlon during a Liverpool training session
View 2 Images
Calum Scanlon is thought of highly at Liverpool(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"Calum's probably one that, if I'm honest with the bodies that we've got in just now, wouldn't have played the minutes that he played.
"He played all those games in succession bourne out of the fact that we had very limited options available at that point, hence the reason why we've done what we've done in the window."
Liverpool's under-21s are set to face off against Arsenal at the Academy on Saturday afternoon.
Article continues below
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
£49
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.