Harvey Elliott has provided Liverpool with an almighty boost.
The 18-year-old is on course to return to training in January which could alter Jurgen Klopp’s transfer window plans.
To the surprise of many, the 18-year-old emerged as a genuine option for Klopp in the opening month of the season.
He performed brilliantly in a deeper role than fans were used to seeing him in and allayed worries that Liverpool hadn’t replaced the virtually ever-present Gini Wijnaldum in the summer.
Of course we know what unfortunately happened next. With Elliott on the treatment table for what was feared could be the rest of the season, subsequent injuries in the midfield to Thiago, Naby Keita, Fabinho, James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Curtis Jones left Liverpool painfully short of options.
With every fresh injury came further scrutiny on the decision not to replace Wijnaldum.
Although Liverpool are seemingly well stocked in the middle of the pitch, the injury records of Thiago, Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in particular mean that they rarely have a full compliment available.
As a result Liverpool have been linked with what feels like every midfielder in the known world.
Particularly strong links with the likes of Dennis Zakaria of Borussia Monchendgladbach and Lille’s Renato Sanches have so far come to nothing.
And those hoping for a dip into the frosty waters of the January transfer market may be left frustrated once again.
With everyone back fit and with Liverpool firing on all cylinders, it seems unlikely that Klopp and outgoing sporting director Michael Edwards will feel the need to add to the ranks.
Should Liverpool have to do without Elliott’s prodigal talents later in the season, this could still come back to bite Klopp.
But if all goes to plan, the return of such a popular and skilled player to an already red-hot squad should mean the Reds can keep the chequebook in the draw until the summer.
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