Both Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic have been long-term absentees for Liverpool this season and now Arne Slot has offered an update.
Jayden Danns has seen is Liverpool career progress halted by injury
Jayden Danns has seen is Liverpool career progress halted by injury(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
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Arne Slot has given an update on the progress of long-term injured Liverpool duo Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic.
Danns, 20, has made just one appearance for Reds this season, coming on for the final 15 minutes of a 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton at Anfield. But shortly after, the Liverpool-born striker was hit by a serious hamstring injury and hasn't played since.
The Academy graduate would have been almost certain to have been included in some of Slot's recent matchday squads, due to injuries to Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak and the absence of Mohamed Salah on international duty.
However, Danns remains sidelined and Slot could not give a clear indication on when he would be ready to resume his time on the pitch.
The Reds head coach said: "He'd have definitely been in the squad but unfortunately, he isn't. We don't expect him back today or tomorrow as well. He's been very unlucky in his career until now.
"The good thing about him is that he has a great mentality, so he's always fighting himself back after setbacks. Unfortunately, he's had quite a lot, because this would have been a great moment for him with Alexander Isak being out.
Stefan Bajcetic's Liverpool career has stalled due to injury
Stefan Bajcetic's Liverpool career has stalled due to injury(Image: Getty Images)
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"He would have been able to help us out in certain moments, but unfortunately for him, and for us, he has faced a lot of injuries in his career until now. The good thing about him is that he will fight back and come back."
It has been a similar tale of woe for midfielder Bajcetic, who also suffered a serious hamstring injury while on loan with Spanish side Las Palmas last season. The Spaniard required an operation to fix the issue but has since been plagued with setbacks during his recovery.
As a result, he has yet to play a single minute this season, and a return for the 21-year-old does not appear to be imminent.
When asked about Bajectic, Slot said: "He's not training yet. He constantly gets close to the team, then has a setback, then gets close, then has a little setback.
"We're hoping and expecting to have him very soon again. But that moment in time he trains with us again, he has been out for six, seven, eight months. As much as I'd like to have him back, we have to manage the expectations with him as well."
Meanwhile, the club's record summer transfer Isak is still recovering from a fractured leg and is not close to a return to first team action.
"He's not even on the pitch yet. He's just out of his 'walker'," said Slot.
"He won't be on the pitch today or tomorrow in terms of his recovery work. So that's going to take a while, which we knew."