Liverpool youngster Stefan Bajčetić is closing in on a timely return from injury. The 19-year-old broke into the Liverpool team in the first half of last season and was rewarded with a new long-term contract in January 2023.
But his development has been hampered by injuries since then, having initially picked up an adductor problem in March last year. That ruled him out of the remainder of the previous campaign, with Bajčetić managing just 72 minutes this season.
He started against LASK Linz in the Europa League back in September and followed that up with a substitute appearance in the Carabao Cup win over Leicester. But he hasn’t played since due to a calf problem.
Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp overhauled his midfield last summer and the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endō have all impressed. But many fans are keen to see Bajčetić compete for his place.
Klopp revealed before the international break that the Spaniard was not too far away from returning to first-team training but would first undergo an individual program to ensure he was ready. Speaking in his press conference before the defeat to Manchester Unied, Klopp said: “Stefan is pretty much now in his pre-season to make him physically ready so, in the moment, if he feels something it’s not injuries but intensity.
“He is a young lad, so we have to make sure that we don’t use him before he is then really ready. Because obviously what happened before was that the body was not 100 per cent ready for the intensity professional football is asking for.
“He is in a much better place now, he had a long time – unfortunately – to improve that. That’s why we have to wait now a little bit, but he is in his pre-season and I think he will be part of team training after the international break.”
Bajčetić posted a picture from the club’s training ground over the weekend on social media as fans sent messages of support. Alongside the Instagram post, he wrote: “Can’t wait for what’s coming.” This was just three days after a similar post which read: “Patience will pay off.”
It remains to be seen if Bajčetić will feature in the run-in, with Liverpool facing must-win matches. Klopp’s side takes on Brighton on Sunday before a tough run of eight matches in April.
