Liverpool starlet Kaide Gordon is expected to return to full-contact training next month after spending 17 months on the sidelines through injury.
The 18-year-old, who is highly rated in England, was diagnosed with a pelvic problem in February 2022 and has not played any competitive football since, with the issue bringing a halt to the momentum he was building.
Since joining from Derby County as a 16-year-old for a fee of up to £3m, Gordon has managed four appearances for Jurgen Klopp's senior side, including a Premier League outing and a start in a strong Liverpool side that beat Arsenal in the 2021/22 Carabao Cup semi-final.
He even bagged his first goal for Liverpool in an FA Cup victory over Shrewsbury before his pelvic issue derailed his progress, but The Athletic state that Gordon is nearing a long-awaited comeback.
Gordon is expected to be put on a specialised training regime in the hope of avoiding overloading the teenager, but there are currently no concerns about his recovery.
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Gordon's controlled return is not expected to include a trip with the first team on their pre-season tour, with the teenager instead expected to remain with the Under-21 setup for the time being.
"It was a really difficult season for Kaide," academy manager Alex Inglethorphe acknowledged. "Possibly even harder given where he was when he got his injury.
"But I’ve kept in touch with Kaide regularly throughout and I’d back him to find a way back to where he was. He’s certainly got the character to do that.
"As hard as it is, he probably just needs to reintegrate into the Under-21s in pre-season, find his feet and see how he is. He’s got to learn to trust his body again and get his rhythm back. After that, anything is possible."
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This article was originally published on 90min as Liverpool forward nears return to training after 17-month injury absence.
