Hugo Ekitike looks to be on course in his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury, with the striker said to be targeting a return to training earlier than many would have expected
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2: Hugo Ekitike #22 of Liverpool FC waves to the fans after the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike is reportedly eyeing up a return to training with Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Hugo Ekitike looks to be on course to return for Liverpool before the end of the year, with reports in France even suggesting the striker could be back in training as early as November.
Ekitike has been out since April after rupturing his Achilles tendon during the Champions League quarter-final meeting with Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield.
The injury came as a major blow for the 24-year-old, who had looked to have been on course for a spot in France’s World Cup squad after an impressive first season for Liverpool. Given the nature of the issue, fears were raised that Ekitike wouldn’t be able to play again in 2026.
Reports earlier in the summer though suggested that the former Eintracht Frankfurt star was looking to make a return during the Christmas period, with the Boxing Day fixture against Hull City seen as a possibility for his comeback.
Now, L’Equipe claims that Ekitike is aiming to make a return to training with Liverpool at some point in November, and is still on course to make a competitive comeback the following month if all goes well.
Ekitike is said to have traveled to the United States in recent days to see a specialist, and the forward is now able to jog after continuing his recovery at Liverpool and back in France at the national team’s headquarters in Clairefontaine.
Hugo Ekitike winces in pain
Hugo Ekitike ruptured his Achilles tendon against PSG back in April(Image: Xavier Laine, Getty Images)
However, no definitive timeline has been set yet for the striker to make a return, but Liverpool has included him in its squad for the league phase of this season’s Champions League, which would appear to indicate that the club expects him to make a comeback before the first phase of the competition ends in January.
A possible return for Ekitike before the end of the year will come as a major boost to the Reds, with Andoni Iraola already facing up to the prospect of being without his two main options up front.
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Both Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo have returned from international duty early after picking up injuries while with Sweden and the Netherlands respectively.
Isak’s issue has been described as a minor complaint, and hopes are still high that he will be able to recover in time for Liverpool’s first game back after the break against Manchester City on October 11.
Gakpo’s chances of playing in that game are looking slimmer though, with the Dutchman forced to pull out of his nation’s fixtures after picking up an ankle injury against Serbia, with early reports suggesting he could be out for weeks.