Harvey Elliott is nearing a return to fitness after a fractured foot at a time when Liverpool are going to need him
Probably the only aspect of the international break more inevitable than players picking up unnecessary injuries is the curious withdrawal of those with ailments that miraculously resolve themselves by the time the Premier League resumes a few weeks later. Not that all such cry-offs aren’t merited.
Indeed, Kobbie Mainoo, Ezri Konsa and in particular Morgan Gibbs-White will all feel they have good reason not to have linked up as planned for England’s current UEFA Nations League squad.
But such absences open the door for others, with this time Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones – who was in the provisional squad for the European Championship in the summer – being given another call-up having been a favourite of interim England boss Lee Carsley during his time in charge with the national team’s under-21s.
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Jones remained on the bench during the dismal 2-1 Wembley loss to Greece on Thursday but will hope for his senior international bow during the game in Finland on Sunday.
His inclusion, though, reignited a perennial debate over who is the best uncapped English player operating in the Premier League present – with a Liverpool team-mate regularly featuring in the conversation.
Indeed, but for his untimely injury when training with England U21s last month, Harvey Elliott could easily have instead been receiving the call from Carsley earlier this week.
The fractured foot he suffered while on international duty has kept Elliott on the sidelines since early September, with Liverpool’s next game – the Premier League visit of Chelsea on Sunday week – having long been circled as a potential return date.
While Elliott’s social media updates have suggested the player remains on course with his rehabilitation, the Reds have no intention of rushing the 21-year-old back to action. But there’s no doubt Liverpool would benefit from his availability, given the intense and difficult schedule that awaits before the next international break in November.
Elliott had impressed during pre-season but found himself benched for the opening three games of the season. A brief outing at the end of the 2-0 home in over Brentford in August remains his only competitive appearance under the new Reds boss.
It’s in stark contrast to last season when Elliott was in every matchday squad and failed to feature in only five matches. The previous season he missed just one game and again didn’t get off the bench in only five matches.
This is Elliott’s longest absence since the broken ankle he suffered at Leeds United a month into the 2021/22 season after starting the campaign in midfield.
Having featured in a variety of positions under Jurgen Klopp, Slot’s reconfigured midfield and preference for clarity regards position led the new head coach to declare Elliott and Dominik Szoboszlai were his two primary options in the number 10 role.
But when Szoboszlai was rested last time out at Crystal Palace, the absence of Elliott meant it was Jones who instead started in the attacking midfield role – a reminder of why Elliott’s similar versatility will prove increasingly useful during the season.
Elliott – who made his Liverpool debut way back in October 2019 – had started to assume extra responsibility last term and began adding numbers to his game, with four assists and a goal in the final six Premier League games.
His long-distance shooting also become more prominent, while Klopp publicly apologised for not offering Elliott more starting opportunities throughout the season – of his 34 Premier League appearances, 23 were as substitute.
Now Elliott is preparing to make up for time lost to impress Slot and underline why his recent absence for both club and country was a missed opportunity for everyone concerned.
