Conor Bradley has received a good health update from Jurgen Klopp, who also highlighted the club’s cautious approach to his comeback.
The right-back has been out of action since the start of the season because of a back issue that is anticipated to keep him out until at least November.
Bradley participated for the Reds in the summer friendly in Germany against Karlsruher and Furth, but was not included in the group that later went for Singapore.
He returned from a loan with Bolton last season to fill in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, but since leaving the League One team, he has yet to play in a competitive game for Liverpool.
The 20-year-old is “on the way back” with his recuperation and is running at the practise field, according to Klopp, who was speaking before the team’s trip to Brighton. However, he also emphasised why the process cannot be accelerated.
The boss informed the reporters, “Conor is on the road to recovery with running, but in that age group and with these types of injuries you prefer to give them three weeks more than not enough because it has to do with the developing process of the body, stuff like that.
They need some time because, to put it bluntly, “I couldn’t get this injury any more.”
Given the terrible nature of the problems he has had thus far this season, Bradley running at Kirkby is a welcome step.
When Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill said the young player was a “extreme doubt” for the international friendly that are scheduled to finish on November 20, it was revealed in August that the injury was a long-term one.
Bradley’s comeback date hasn’t been given by Klopp with any certainty, but the manager will want to see him back on the pitch as soon as possible.
Alexander-Arnold, the first-choice right back for Liverpool, has struggled with his own health this year after just making a full recovery from a hamstring injury last weekend against Tottenham.
Bradley has made five senior appearances for the Reds, and when he returns to full health this year, he hopes to add to that total.
