Liverpool midfield Elijah Dixon-Bonner faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering knee ligament damage.
Dixon-Bonner, who made his first-team debut as a late substitute in the FA Cup fourth round replay win over Shrewsbury Town earlier this month , sustained the damage during a challenge while playing for the under-23s in their Premier League Cup win over Huddersfield Town last Friday.
The 19-year-old midfielder has since been on crutches while wearing a protective boot as he begins his rehabilitation, with Reds U23 coach Neil Critchley hopeful the youngster will be available before the end of the season.
“It happened on Friday against Huddersfield,” said Critchley. “He had a collision with one of their players and has damaged one of the ligaments in his knee, so he’s going to be out for a number of weeks.
“It’s really disappointing to us and not nice to see.
“He has played a lot of games for us and done extremely well this season. He’s had a really good season, and I was hoping to see him push on in the back end.
“Elijah is very philosophical about it, he has got his head around it and knows he is going to face a little period in the gym.
“But he’ll be fine, as he is mentally a very strong boy. We hope to see him again this season.”
Dixon-Bonner was part of the side that won the FA Youth Cup last season and has made the step up to the U23s this season, where he has been a regular.
The teenager was on the bench for the Carabao Cup defeat at Aston Villa, and featured in all three group games in the EFL Trophy during which he was twice captain and scored in the 5-2 defeat at Accrington Stanley.
