Arne Slot handed fitness boost with injured Liverpool striker back in full training

The Reds head coach has been forced to rely on just Hugo Ekitike for over two months, but one of the club's absent center-forwards has reached a significant milestone in his rehabilitation

Arne Slot has been issued an injury update on Jayden Danns(Image: Getty Images)

Rob Page confirmed Jayden Danns will return to full training this week, in what could prove a boost for Arne Slot’s attacking options.

The Liverpool striker, who played in September’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton, has endured several significant injury setbacks in recent years, including a stress fracture in his back that was discovered in February 2025 and a long-term hamstring issue.

The latter has kept Danns out for over five months, but he has been slowly working his way back to full fitness and was pictured partially training with the the Under-21s last week. He has been cleared to progress his rehabilitation and Page has revealed the 20-year-old will return to full training this week.

“Dannsy is looking good. He’s back in training next week. That’s good for him,” the former Wales boss told Liverpool.com after the Reds’ Under-21 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Danns’ return is excellent news for the Under-21 as the side enters the final stages of the Premier League 2 campaign, but also for Slot, who admires the academy prospect and has previously handed him five first-team appearances.

“Jayden, if he would have been fit, would be in the squad,” Slot said at the end of January. “Unfortunately, he isn’t, and we don’t expect him back today or tomorrow as well.

Danns will be back in full training this week(Image: PA)

“He has had, unfortunately, quite a lot [of setbacks] because this would have been a great moment for him with Alexander Isak being out, and with the quality he has, being with us and helped us in certain moments.

“Unfortunately for him and for us, he has faced a lot of injuries, but he will fight back and come back, and the world will get to know him the moment he is fit again.”

Meanwhile, James McConnell has recently returned to training after recovering from injury and could also be an option for Slot in the final months of the campaign.

Page has overseen a run of seven wins in eight at Under-21 level

The Dutchman and Page work closely together, with players such as Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha routinely switching between the first team and the Under-21s.

“We've got a great relationship,” said Page, shedding some light on the dialogue between the Liverpool coaches. “Luiz [Fernando Iubel] has come in as well and he's now that link between the first team and 21s.

“There are conversations daily with forecasts, where the players might be able to get minutes. So Rio got on [against West Ham]; Trey got on and had some minutes as well. I thought he was very good when he got on. So it was important that he got 60 minutes today.

“Rio not to be involved, and then Rambo [Calvin Ramsay] has come back down and played a full game for us. So the communication's great and we're happy to accommodate.”

Sunday’s 4-2 win over Spurs increased Liverpool’s current winning run to seven in the last eight Under-21 league fixtures.

With just three more games before the play-offs, the Reds will look to end the season strongly and still have an outside chance of finishing first.