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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Harvey Elliott set to reprise key Liverpool role as injured star steps up comeback

Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott has returned to full training, just four months after dislocating an ankle.

The midfielder, 18, suffered the horrific injury during the Reds' Premier League fixture against Leeds at Elland Road in September.

Many expected Elliott to be out for most of the season, but he has recovered quickly and will be hoping to make his return shortly.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has promised not to rush the English talent and will ease him back into the first-team, describing him as an "old soul" and praising his mentality.

The German coach is concerned Elliott could pick up another injury in training due to the rustiness that inevitably follows a major injury.

How excited are you to see Harvey Elliott back in action? Let us know in the comments below!

Harvey Elliott is back in full Liverpool training for the first time since his injury (Andrew Powell/Getty Images)

"He has a foot injury and there are rusty mornings when you get up and it does feel rusty," said Klopp. "But he is running outside now with full body weight on it, that is a good sign.

"When he will be back I have no idea. From a mental point of view, Harvey is rather an old soul, I would say he is very mature for a young age. He is completely fine with the situation, he has accepted it, he deals with it.

"Everybody around tries to help him. I think I must try and cheer him up some days, but it is rarely needed because he has a brilliant family at home and is a rather positive fella.

"And yes we all hope from a physical point of view a young age helps him to recover quickly but quickly is not so important. Fully is the main thing.

"At the moment, and I hope I don't eat my words, but I cannot see a scenario where we would think about rushing him back."

Klopp is a huge admirer of Elliott and will be hoping he can become a key member of his team over the next few years.

The teenager made four Premier League appearances before his injury following a successful season-long loan spell at Championship outfit Blackburn.

"He can play [central midfield], he can play up front, the right wing," said the Liverpool boss after the team's pre-season draw against Athletic Bilbao in August.

"He smashed the bar. He is different, he can play a few positions, no doubt about it. We wanted to try him in midfield in pre-season to get him more involved. He made big steps."

Speaking to The Athletic last February, Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray was full of praise for Elliott.

Elliott is hoping to become a regular at Anfield (REUTERS)

"He’s just a fantastic talent... Harvey is unbelievable," said the experienced coach.

"It’s unfathomable to me that, in five years, he’ll still be in his early twenties and he could have played 250 games by then. What a joy he is. He just loves the ball; can’t have enough of it.

"And you can’t get him off the training ground. When he plays a game and comes into training the next day, the lads who haven’t been involved might be taking part in a small-sided game and Harvey just wants to join in.

"He’s always out on the grass; so much that I have to keep sending him in. It’s an amazing attitude he’s got."

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