Liverpool have confirmed that academy striker Jayden Danns is undergoing medical assessment after sustaining an injury during the U21s’ weekend clash against Ipswich Town. The 19-year-old forward was forced to leave the field after just 31 minutes in the Premier League 2 encounter, sparking concern over a possible hamstring issue. The setback was reported by liverpoolfc.com, who revealed that the youngster is currently being evaluated to determine the seriousness of the problem.
The incident occurred shortly after Danns took a free-kick, with journalist Lewis Bower noting that the forward appeared to pull up immediately before signalling to the bench. He was replaced by Keyrol Figueroa, and the nature of the substitution suggested that the issue was more than a precautionary move. Understandably, this has raised fresh worries for Liverpool’s youth setup, which is already facing several injury problems across key positions.
For Rob Page’s U21s, the timing could not be worse. Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Ipswich marked their second consecutive loss, despite a determined second-half fightback. The squad is already depleted, with new signing Will Wright ruled out by an MCL strain and defender Giovanni Leoni recovering from an ACL tear. With Danns now potentially sidelined, Liverpool’s young attacking options are stretched thinner than ever, forcing the coaching staff into difficult decisions about squad rotation and tactical flexibility.
The situation mirrors problems at senior level. Manager Arne Slot has had to deal with his own shortage of forwards. Hugo Ekitike is only just returning from suspension following a red card against Southampton, while record signing Alexander Isak is still being gradually introduced into the lineup after his high-profile move from Newcastle. Although Federico Chiesa could potentially be deployed centrally, he has not travelled with the squad for the upcoming Champions League clash against Galatasaray, further limiting Liverpool’s attacking depth.
In response to these challenges, Liverpool moved to strengthen their creative options by signing Florian Wirtz, whose vision and playmaking abilities are expected to help ease the burden on the forward line. Still, if Danns’ injury proves serious, both the senior and academy squads will feel the impact. His development has been closely tracked by Liverpool’s coaching staff, and many fans see him as one of the brightest prospects emerging from the youth system.
For now, all eyes are on the club’s medical team, who will determine the extent of the damage before outlining a recovery plan. Supporters will be hoping for positive news, as another long-term absence could further destabilize Liverpool’s preparations in what is shaping up to be a demanding and high-pressure season across all competitions.
