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Differing reports have emerged on Conor Bradley and his potential injury recovery timeline.
The Northern Ireland international went down during stoppage time of Liverpool’s 0-0 draw at Arsenal last month, landing awkwardly while chasing a loose ball near the touchline. Scans later revealed bone and ligament damage to his knee, though thankfully not an ACL rupture. Bradley underwent surgery in January and was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Liverpool invested £29.5 million in Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen, hoping he and Bradley would form the right-back partnership of the future. Instead, both have been plagued by fitness issues. Frimpong is currently nursing a groin problem sustained against Qarabag—his third injury absence of the season—forcing Slot to deploy midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones in an unfamiliar position
Injury expert Ben Dinnery reported earlier this week that there is a genuine concern that the 22-year-old could be out until early 2027.
However, reliable journalist Lewis Steele has painted a more optimistic picture. According to his sources, Bradley had a planned check-up on his knee in Manchester on Tuesday morning and remains hopeful of returning for the start of next season. Crucially, he has not been ruled out of the World Cup this summer should Northern Ireland qualify via the play-offs:
“There have been some rumours this week that Conor Bradley is going to be on the treatment table for longer than first feared,” Steele wrote.
“With injuries so serious as this one – the right back suffered bone and ligament damage when going down at Arsenal last month – there is obviously the chance that those murmurs could end up being correct.”
“As it stands, those with knowledge of the situation do not have a definite return date for Bradley. It is understood he had a planned check-up on his knee on Tuesday morning in Manchester and is still hopeful of being back for the start of next season, with him not fully ruled out of the World Cup should Northern Ireland get there via the play-offs.”
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