Liverpool youngster Tom Hill has made his long-awaited comeback after almost 20 months on the sidelines.
Hill played for an hour and scored for the under-18s side in a 3-2 friendly win over Tottenham Hotspur at Kirkby on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old midfielder had been out since September 2020 when he underwent surgery after suffering ACL damage during a training session, with his comeback then delayed by further back and shin problems.
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His goal came shortly before half-time when, with Liverpool having fallen 2-0 behind, he brought them back into the game by breaking from midfield and running on to a cross from Isaac Mabaya before firing home.
Hill, who hails from Formby and has been at the Academy since U6 level, had made significant progress before his serious injury, breaking into the U18s side and handed a first-team debut aged just 17 when he played the full 90 minutes of the 5-0 League Cup quarter-final defeat at Aston Villa in December 2019.
Liverpool demonstrated a significant show of faith in his potential by agreeing a long-term contract shortly after the operation on his knee, and the delight was clear from the player and Academy staff when, after the game against Tottenham, he marked his return with a celebratory photograph with lead Academy physiotherapist Paul Kelly and other backroom members.
Oakley Cannonier netted an equaliser for Liverpool after being fed by substitute Harvey Blair, and then scored the winner in the final minute when, having been found by a throughball from centre-back Luke Chambers, he took a touch before slotting in.
The U18s, whose competitive season ended earlier this month, will now travel to London for the second part of a double-header against Tottenham at the weekend.
