Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has opened up about the "frustrating" injury which has plagued him this season and forced club medical staff to manage his minutes.
The England under-21 international has featured just eight times in the league this season, completing 90 minutes only once. With Liverpool facing injury issues throughout the squad, the absence of the 22-year-old has been yet another blow in a difficult season.
Jones did earn a rare start in midweek, featuring in the draw at Chelsea after having previously played just 20 minutes in the league in 2023. However, in an interview with The Echo, he has shared more details of the challenges facing him.
"I have been on a schedule where a specialist is now on board and I am only allowed to train for four days on the pitch and then I have to have a day off," Jones said. "So if the day off comes at the same time as the game then I can't do much."
He explained he wasn't injured over the weekend, but the strict schedule kept him out of the defeat at Manchester City. However, he did shed some more light on the extent of the injury, which has plagued him for much of the season.
"It's a stress response on the bone," the midfielder added. "It's still the same thing [from earlier in the season]. It's kind of just going and coming back again. It's frustrating, that is what I am saying."
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If he can stay healthy, Jones could find himself having a bigger role to play next season. Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo could all end up leaving Anfield, and details of new midfield signings are yet to be finalised.
It appears to be a case of taking things slowly, though. He explained the recurrence of the problem has made this season a tough one, but appreciates the value of rest as he looks to ensure he doesn't suffer more recurrences.
"It's something where they have said it is something they have never seen before," he added. "It came back three times, so yes, it's been a hard time. But the staff have handled it well and like I said, there is a specialist on board now so we just follow the plan."
The trip to Chelsea didn't bring victory, but it did bring 79 minutes on the pitch for Jones. That allowed him to more than double his post-World Cup game time - in all competitions, not just the league - and helped give Klopp a reminder of what he can offer between now and the end of the season.
"I've been out for a while, as I said, so he [Klopp] has not really had a chance to see me in a game," Jones explained after the trip to West London. "There have not been many games where I can play.
"But I was back in there today [Tuesday] and I think I have given him a decent little cameo to think about. It's been a hard time having been injured for a while and it's an up and down time but now I am back and I am excited, so it was a good step."
