MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Monday, March 16, 2026: Liverpool's Jayden Danns during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester City FC Under-21's and Liverpool FC Under-21's at the Academy Stadium. Man City won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Monday, March 16, 2026: Liverpool's Jayden Danns during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester City FC Under-21's and Liverpool FC Under-21's at the Academy Stadium. Man City won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jayden Danns only played five times last season amid more frustrating issues, with academy chief Alex Inglethorpe explaining the Liverpool striker’s latest battle.
It is now two long years since Danns’ breakthrough campaign at Liverpool, having scored 20 goals in 26 games in 2023/24 – including two in five first-team appearances.
Since then, the Scouser has only managed 14 appearances over two seasons – five for the senior side – as he continues to struggle with fitness issues.
The 20-year-old will look to make an impression on Andoni Iraola as he targets a return to full fitness in time for pre-season, while a decision will be made on a loan move.
Jayden Danns “has gone through a tremendous amount of growth”
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Monday, March 16, 2026: Liverpool's Jayden Danns goes off with an injury on his return to action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester City FC Under-21's and Liverpool FC Under-21's at the Academy Stadium. Man City won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Monday, March 16, 2026: Liverpool's Jayden Danns goes off with an injury on his return to action during the Premier League 2 match between Manchester City FC Under-21's and Liverpool FC Under-21's at the Academy Stadium. Man City won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Speaking to The Athletic‘s James Pearce, academy director Inglethorpe reflected on Danns’ latest spell on the sidelines and remarked on his physical development while out.
“His body has gone through a tremendous amount of growth over the past year or so,” Inglethorpe explained.
“Previously, it was a stress-related problem [in his back] and this season, it was hamstring.
“He’s put on a few kilos of muscle. He’s grown and looks like a man now.”
Danns’ ongoing absence comes with a concern over the loss of a number of local-born players – not least the possibility of Curtis Jones leaving Liverpool this summer.
If Jones were to depart it would leave Danns as the next-closest Scouser to the first-team setup, but Inglethorpe insists there will still be a local presence in years to come.
“When I look through the age groups, I know there are local boys here who will play for this club,” he continued.
“You can debate how you define ‘local’. Do they need to have a purple bin?
“I’m excited about the talent we’ve got. There’s a lot of potential.”
What can we expect from Jayden Danns next season?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 16, 2025: Liverpool's Jayden Danns during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Atlético de Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 16, 2025: Liverpool's Jayden Danns during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Atlético de Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Still only 20, having celebrated his birthday in January, Danns could feasibly break his way back into the Liverpool setup, particularly following the appointment of Iraola.
There were a few eyebrows raised in April when predecessor Arne Slot claimed Danns was “getting back with the U21s, getting some playing time,” when he had in fact suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury a month previous.
Behind the scenes the youngster has continued to work on his rehabilitation with a long-term view taken on his recovery.
That makes this pre-season a big one for Danns, who if fit will be among the first to report to the AXA Training Centre for sessions under Iraola.
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