Liverpool's forgotten man was loved by Jurgen Klopp before latest injury setback

Stefan Bajcetic looking to be making fantastic progress under Liverpool's former manager Jurgen Klopp, but he has suffered with injuries in recent times

Stefan Bajcetic was making strides under Jurgen Klopp(Image: 2023 Visionhaus)

It seems a long time since Stefan Bajcetic was making strides at Liverpool... and that's because it is.

We're coming up on two years since Bajcetic's last appearance for the Reds in May 2024, and it has been even longer since he was figuring regularly under Jurgen Klopp.

Bajcetic showed bags of potential as a teenager after joining Liverpool from Celta Vigo in 2020, and appeared 19 times for Liverpool during the 2022-23 season.

However, he only managed three appearances the following campaign, and he has not featured since, spending the first half of last season on loan at RB Salzburg before switching to Las Palmas for the second half of the campaign.

Bajcetic was not sent back out on loan last summer, with Liverpool keen to retain him amid the departures of Tyler Morton and James McConnell, to Lyon permanently and Ajax on loan respectively.

The Spaniard underwent surgery on a hamstring injury at the back end of last season that was always expected to sideline him well into this season — but he would have expected to have returned by now.

Bajectic was targeting a pre-Christmas return, but setback with his rehabilitation means he will now not return for several weeks.

When he finally does return to fitness, he will need minutes at Under-21 level before making the step up to the senior side, so it seems unlikely that he will play a significant role for Arne Slot's side before the end of the season.

Bajcetic hasn't played for Liverpool since May 2024(Image: Getty Images)

Bajcetic's injury issues are a real shame, and it must leave plenty of Liverpool fans wondering what might have been — particularly considering how highly touted he was by former boss Klopp.

"Stefan played exceptional and not because he is only 18, he just played exceptional," Klopp said of Bajcetic's form as the midfielder broke through three seasons ago. "Top talent, super player. Played really good for us so far. Since he is with us it is a pure joy to work with him.

"I think the mix of Serbia and Spain is a good one for football. If you meet him he is a top, intelligent boy and it is a joy to work together.

"He has a great bunch of players around him that he can work from and he is an absolute joy."