Liverpool handed huge boost as forgotten star returns after three months out

Stefan Bajcetic has had bad luck at Liverpool of late after suffering a hamstring injury while on loan at Las Palmas, with the midfielder now returning to training in a bid to impress Arne Slot

Forgotten Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic has returned to first team training after being sidelined by a succession of injury problems.

The 20-year-old academy prospect made his breakthrough for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp in the 2022-23 campaign, when he featured 19 times and scored one goal.

But since then he has struggled for fitness after picking up a number issues, including a significant hamstring injury while on loan with La Liga side Las Palmas last season.

But after returning to gym work in August, Bajcetic has now joined the rest of his team-mates and has been pictured on the training pitch as he looks to impress manager Arne Slot. Liverpool are preparing for a tough trip to newly-promoted Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday.

It has been a tough road to recovery for Bajcetic, who also struggled on loan at Red Bull Salzburg last season before excelling with Las Palmas – before a heartbreaking set-back that required surgery.

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But he appeared to be in good spirits on Thursday after being spotted in training at Liverpool’s training ground.

Bajcetic joined Liverpool from Celta Vigo in 2020 when he was just 16 and was hailed as a future superstar for the Reds after his emergence under Klopp, before being handed a number of set-backs.

He had a relatively successful loan spell with Las Palmas last season as he started 11 games after joining in January, though he could not prevent their relegation to the second division, with his hamstring injury ruling him out of their last two games.

Bajcetic penned an emotional message to fans after the end of the season as he said: “These are tough days for everyone, but especially for you fans, we have not been able to fulfill the goal of staying in the league you deserve,” he wrote in a statement on Instagram.

“In four months I have realized the fans this club has and it hurts me a lot that you have failed. I’m sure you’ll go back to where this club needs to be. I’ll always be cheering as one more of you. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all the support and for being there always.”

Bajcetic was joined in training by new signing Jeremie Frimpong, who is back on the grass after his own hamstring problem.

Also appearing among the group was record £125m arrival Alexander Isak, who sealed a historic move from Newcastle on deadline day.

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