Liverpool talent confirms injury setback as surgery ends his season

Young Liverpool forward Josh Abe has undergone surgery on an injury, while Jayden Danns picked up another issue in his latest appearance with his latest setback

Josh Abe during a Liverpool U18s game against Leeds United.(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Fifteen-year-old Liverpool forward Josh Abe, who has scored eight times in 10 appearances at U18 level so far this season, has undergone surgery on a leg injury he sustained while representing England.

Abe had been in Turkiye with former Liverpool academy coach Barry Lewtas, who now works with England’s U16s group. He played games against Denmark, Spain and France at the end of last month.

However, he returned to his club with an injury he said would cut short his season. Then, this week, he confirmed that he had had the operation. "Surgery done, hard work starts now," he wrote on Instagram.

Abe has drawn interest from various other Premier League clubs in the last few months. Chelsea is one, though it now has an academy transfer ban, while Manchester City and Arsenal have also been linked.

Elsewhere, Jayden Danns played just under half an hour for Liverpool's U21s against Manchester City last week but then limped off with another issue.

Danns has barely played over the last year or so because of various issues that have held him back. Had he been fit, he would have made a first-team impact.

Josh Abe of Liverpool(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"We'll know more in 24 hours, but it was probably precautionary as well," U21s manager Rob Page told The RedMen TV.

"He's felt something, to what extent, we don't know, but I think he's done the sensible and right thing to do.

"He could have played on for the first half, but I think the sensible thing to do for his development now and for his future is for him to come off."

At the first-team level, Liverpool could be without Mohamed Salah for its trip to Brighton in the Premier League this weekend after he went off in the second half against Galatasaray midweek.

"Injury-wise, he was asking for a substitution, not because he thought he had scored enough, but that he felt something," Arne Slot said on Wednesday. "Let's see where he is for the weekend and afterwards."

Alexander Isak, meanwhile, was left out of the Sweden squad for the upcoming international break, as expected. He is not back in team training yet and was spotted working on his own this week.

"There’s nothing we can do about it," Sweden boss Graham Potter said. "It’s sad to lose players due to injuries, it’s like that for all teams. But we have a very good group, I believe in the squad and am sure that together we can find good solutions and focus on our task."