Conor Bradley could still have big role to play during Liverpool injury lay off

Conor Bradley suffered a serious knee injury while playing for Liverpool against Arsenal earlier this month, which will also have an impact at international level

Conor Bradley is expected to miss the remainder of the season(Image: 2026 Marc Atkins)

Conor Bradley could still have an important role to play during his injury lay-off, as Northern Ireland eyes a place at the World Cup.

The Liverpool right-back is expected to miss the remainder of Liverpool's season after suffering a serious knee injury during the 0-0 draw with Arsenal earlier in January. That means he will also be unavailable for international selection in March, when Northern Ireland takes on Italy in a World Cup playoff.

The winner of that game will play either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a place at this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico at stake.

Although Bradley – who is Northern Ireland's captain – will not be able to help his country get to the World Cup on the field, Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill is hopeful that the youngster can have an impact off it.

"The training base [for Northern Ireland ahead of the game against Italy] is in Liverpool, so it is convenient for Conor to drop in and see us," O'Neill told the BBC.

"I'll speak to him and have been speaking to him, that's something for closer to the time and for his club to decide if it is right.

Bradley is Northern Ireland's captain(Image: Izzy Poles - AMA/Getty Images)

"He will be two or three months into his recovery, [so] we'll play it by ear, but it would certainly be nice to have him around if possible."

Scans on Bradley's knee after the game against Arsenal thankfully eased fears that the player had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, but the player suffered significant bone and ligament damage and underwent surgery.

Although Liverpool said that no timeframe was being placed on Bradley's return, he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

Bradley is the second Liverpool defender to suffer an apparent season-ending injury this term, after new signing Giovanni Leoni sustained a serious knee injury of his own back in September.

Liverpool's defensive injury issues worsened this week as Jeremie Frimpong sustained another injury, which will keep him out of action for several weeks.

That leaves Arne Slot without a recognized right-back in the squad, and Joe Gomez – the central defender who Slot would be most likely to call on to deputize at right-back – is also currently unavailable due to injury.

Despite being just 22, Bradley has already won 30 senior caps for Northern Ireland.

He's made 78 first-team appearances for Liverpool to date, helping the Reds win the Premier League title and Carabao Cup.