Manager opens up on Liverpool right-back's 'complex' injury blow

Liverpool’s problems at right-back are mounting.

Trent Alexander-Arnold left last summer - joining Real Madrid on a £10m deal. Conor Bradley was given a new, long-term contract by sporting director Richard Hughes while Jeremie Frimpong was brought in on a £29.5m deal from Bayer Leverkusen.

It was expected that the duo would help the Premier League champions transition into a post-Trent era. Only it’s not happened like that.

Frimpong is already on his third injury absence of the season - following the latest blow he suffered against Qarabag in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Right now it’s unknown how long the 25-year-old will be out - but he is surely going to be back before Bradley.

The Northern Ireland captain suffered a brutal injury blow a few weeks ago during the closing stages of a Premier League game against Arsenal.

Kneecap injury confirmed for Bradley

Initially described as a serious knee injury, it is expected to keep Bradley out until the end of this season at least.

Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill has now revealed more details about the 22-year-old’s injury and recovery - confirming that the right-back has injured a kneecap.

“It's quite a complex injury,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.

“Everyone always fears an ACL. It's a kneecap injury and we just have to give Conor as much support as we can. It's a hammer blow for us that he's out, but we have to deal with it.”

Northern Ireland play Italy in the FIFA World Cup playoffs in March with O’Neill admitting that talks are ongoing with Liverpool in order to have Bradley available to travel with the squad.

Too early to say if Bradley will be at World Cup

“Obviously if Liverpool give us the okay in terms of his recovery, he'd be with us in Italy,” he said.

He also stated that the Liverpool academy graduate would be welcome to join his international teammates ahead of the Italy game with the side’s preparations taking place on Merseyside.

“Our training camp (for the Italian match) will be in Liverpool, so he'll be available to come in if and when it suits him and if and when Liverpool permit him and if it's the right thing,” O’Neill said.

“We'll have dialogue with the club to look at the situation to bring him with us if that is first of all what he wants to do and obviously if Liverpool give us permission to do that.”

The coach also added that it was too early to start talking about Bradley’s participation in the World Cup - should Northern Ireland get by Italy and then either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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