Arne Slot taking extra care with Rio Ngumoha after Jayden Danns injury admission

Liverpool is lacking attacking options at present and Arne Slot has revealed he is unable to call upon Jayden Danns still as he recovers from a hamstring injury

Arne Slot has said Jayden Danns is still struggling with a hamstring injury(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has revealed that a fresh injury blow suffered by Jayden Danns will prevent the striker from returning to the team soon.

The Reds are lacking in the offensive areas following the broken leg Alexander Isak sustained last month, in addition to Hugo Ekitike’s recent muscular issue that prevented him from featuring in the trips to Fulham and Arsenal last week.

It meant Slot was forced to name starting line-ups that did not feature a recognized No. 9, with both Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz carrying out that role. Therefore, Danns' involvement would have been significant. However, the academy graduate remains unavailable.

“No. Not fit enough, no. Not even training, if I'm correct. One of the players that got a stress fracture because he was young and from what we've been told was a bit over-trained,” Slot said ahead of the FA Cup tie against Barnsley on Monday.

Danns’ stress fracture was first spotted last January as he was completing his medical ahead of a loan move to Sunderland. The injury prevented him from featuring for the Black Cats as they gained promotion to the Premier League.

Danns returned to the team at the start of the season and featured in the Carabao Cup victory over Southampton.

Just six days later, the 19-year-old suffered a hamstring injury while representing the U21s. That issue required surgery, and Danns has not played since.

Danns playing for Liverpool in pre-season(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool.com understands Danns had a minor setback earlier this month when the stitches after surgery reopened. That has delayed his recovery and potential availability to Slot.

The Liverpool head coach also warned that Danns’ injury record explains part of the reason he is not overexerting fellow teenage talent Rio Ngumoha.

He said: “That's why we are so careful with Rio Ngumoha, that he's two days a week off the pitch if that's possible, to not have that same situation with him. But Jayden is definitely not available in the short term.”

Rio Ngumoha has struggled for minutes in recent weeks(Image: Getty Images)

Ngumoha, who made his Liverpool debut in last season’s FA Cup third round, has played in just two of the Reds’ last 12 games, and there has been some discussion surrounding whether the ex-Chelsea youngster should be given more minutes in the team.

His minutes have reduced during the course of the season, with Ngumoha coming off the bench in three of the first six league matches.

The winger is expected to start against Barnsley and has played in Liverpool’s two previous domestic cup games this season.