Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike has been handed a positive injury return verdict but also warned of what he will experience over the next few months
Hugo Ekitike has been sent a mixed Liverpool injury message
Hugo Ekitike has been sent a mixed Liverpool injury message(Image: (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images))
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Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison has told Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike that he could make his return from injury as early as October 2026. The France international underwent surgery earlier this month after rupturing his Achilles against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
A full recovery from such an injury typically takes nine months, but Morrison — while offering some encouraging words to Ekitike — believes he could be back on the pitch well before January next year.
Speaking exclusively with Freebets.com, the home of the best betting sites, Morrison said: "Just stay strong. Stay positive. Have good people around you. And in this day and age with all the medical technology available, it could be six or seven months.
"He's young - you heal quicker when you're young. But yeah, there'll be dark places. Watching the World Cup will hurt him. And when pre-season starts and all your teammates are in it and you're not - that's the hard one.
"But he's had a very good season overall, he's still young, he's a top player, and he will bounce back. The people at Liverpool, his family, his friends - they'll all get behind him. There is light at the end of the tunnel."
While a return to club football this year remains a possibility, any hopes of featuring at the World Cup with France are firmly off the table. The 23-year-old had looked a certainty for Didier Deschamps' squad, having grabbed three goal contributions from his last six appearances.
Ekitike turned to social media following the serious injury and subsequent surgery, posting on Instagram: "I'm out of here, I'll be back soon."
The responsibility now appears to fall on Alexander Isak to deliver over the coming months, with his debut campaign at Anfield hampered by fitness concerns and injury setbacks. Cody Gakpo is anticipated to occupy more minutes in attack, which may lead to an increased role for Rio Ngumoha.
Rio Ngumoha is an exciting prospect for Liverpool
Rio Ngumoha is an exciting prospect for Liverpool
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The youngster is undeniably central to Liverpool's long-term vision, but it was Mohamed Salah, who is poised to depart at the season's end, that turned back the clock with his strike in Sunday's 2-1 Merseyside Derby triumph over Everton. That result provided Liverpool with some crucial cushioning in the battle for Champions League qualification, with Brighton, Chelsea, Brentford and Bournemouth all breathing down their necks.
Victory against Crystal Palace this weekend at Anfield would put Arne Slot's team in an excellent position to clinch a top-five finish, particularly with journeys to Manchester United and Aston Villa to follow. The reigning champions also welcome Chelsea and Brentford during the season's closing weeks.
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