Harvey Elliott’s former manager Scott Parker has insisted the youngster will “be back stronger” after suffering a dislocated ankle injury at Leeds on Sunday.
The Liverpool midfielder was badly hurt following a challenge by defender Pascal Strujik and, after receiving treatment on the pitch, was taken to Leeds General Infirmary for further assessment.
On Tuesday, the Reds’ number 67 had successful surgery on the ankle and it is hoped the 18-year-old will be back before the end of the season.
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Parker, who handed Elliott his debut at Fulham back in May 2019, making him the youngest player in Premier League history, aged 16 years and 30 days, has been impressed by how the youngster has dealt with the setback.
Speaking to the Daily Echo , the Bournemouth boss revealed: "I haven’t spoken to him. I’ve obviously seen the challenge and seen Harvey’s injury and it looked really, really bad.
"But I’ve also seen from a distance, someone come out in terms of how he’s approached it, very positive.
"And no doubt just from what I’m reading from afar and what I know of Harvey, he’ll be back stronger and better for it. He’s still young. So I wish him all the best really."
When it was put to him that Elliott has a mature head on young shoulders, Parker responded: "Yeah he does. He’s come across that way and that’s definitely the case.
"He was very young when I was with him, but still someone who was sensible, professional in his ways.
"So I can only see him having grown even more, being around the environment he’s in has probably only pushed him on tenfold from where I was with him.
"He was only a 15-year-old boy when I first saw him. So I suspect what I’m seeing there is the experiences he’s been around."
Elliott had started the season brightly after spending the last campaign on loan at Blackburn in the Championship, making 42 appearances and scoring seven goals at Ewood Park.
Coming on in the 3-0 opening day victory at Norwich, he started in the 2-0 win over Burnley and kept his place, playing the full 90 minutes as Liverpool drew with Chelsea before the international break.
He made his third consecutive start of the season against Leeds before suffering the injury to his ankle.
