PITTSBURGH - Friday, July 26, 2024: Liverpool's Owen Beck during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Real Betis Balompié at the Acrisure Stadium on day three of the club's pre-season tour of the USA. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PITTSBURGH - Friday, July 26, 2024: Liverpool's Owen Beck during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Real Betis Balompié at the Acrisure Stadium on day three of the club's pre-season tour of the USA. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool left-back Owen Beck will not be able to leave on either a permanent or temporary deal this summer after suffering a setback in his recovery from injury.
Beck, who turned 24 last week, underwent surgery to repair damage to his hamstring suffered while on loan at Derby in November.
After a successful operation, the Welshman was projected to return around February or March, with the decision made to terminate his loan and focus on his recovery.
But nine months on, Beck is still not cleared to resume training after a setback in his rehabilitation work, reports The Athletic‘s Gregg Evans.
It means he will not be able to leave Liverpool this summer, having been slated for a permanent exit after four seasons out on loan.
What happens next for Owen Beck?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 10, 2024: Liverpool's substitute Owen Beck before the Football League Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 10, 2024: Liverpool's substitute Owen Beck before the Football League Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He is instead set to remain at the AXA Training Centre as he works his way back to fitness, before likely being gradually reintroduced as an over-age player in the U21s if numbers allow.
After promising spells with Dundee and Blackburn, a failed move to Derby and his subsequent injury is a major blow to Beck’s young career.
When fit there is unlikely to be a shortage of interest, but now 24, he would almost certainly have hoped to have established himself as a regular at senior level by this stage.
At one point, that seemed possible at Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp taking a liking to the all-action left-back during two appearances in the 2021/22 campaign.
PITTSBURGH - Friday, July 26, 2024: Liverpool's Kaide Gordon (L) and Owen Beck arrive before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Real Betis Balompié at the Acrisure Stadium on day three of the club's pre-season tour of the USA. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PITTSBURGH - Friday, July 26, 2024: Liverpool's Kaide Gordon (L) and Owen Beck arrive before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Real Betis Balompié at the Acrisure Stadium on day three of the club's pre-season tour of the USA. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Beck then went on to make the matchday squad on four occasions in January 2024 – including coming off the bench in a 4-0 win over Andoni Iraola‘s Bournemouth in the Premier League – during a break in his loan at Dundee.
But there was no such opportunity under Arne Slot and the chance to impress a new head coach in Araola has likely passed him by.
Luke Chambers and Calum Scanlon were the left-backs promoted from Liverpool’s academy ranks for pre-season this time around, but there is no guarantee either will be afforded a full-time spot in the first-team squad.
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Calum Scanlon during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NASHVILLE, USA - Saturday, July 25, 2026: Liverpool's Calum Scanlon during a friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at the Nashville SC Stadium. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Scanlon is wanted by both Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff and is expected to head out on loan again in the coming days.
While Chambers has impressed when called on at both left-back and centre-back this summer, the competition for places, including new loan signing Ronald Araujo, means he is more likely to be loaned out.
Milos Kerkez remains Iraola’s starting left-back with Kostas Tsimikas returning from a spell with AS Roma to serve as the Hungarian’s deputy.
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool FC v Wrexham AFC
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool FC v Wrexham AFC
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool FC v Leeds United FC
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. Leeds won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz before a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)