Liverpool academy star Jaden Duns suffered a devastating injury during his much-anticipated return to the Under-21 squad against Manchester City.
The 20-year-old forward had been out for five months after undergoing hamstring surgery in September, but was only on the sidelines for just 29 minutes before being pulled out in visible pain.
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The injury occurred as Dans attempted to use his characteristic rapid pace to return to midfield.
He immediately grabbed the back of his right leg and signaled to the bench looking devastated as he was helped off the pitch at Kirkby Academy.
Liverpool starlet Jaden Duns suffers injury setback
The timing of this latest issue is a cruel blow for the striker, who only returned to full training at the end of February.
Dans, who scored 29 goals in 48 appearances at youth level, is considered one of the rising stars of the academy.
However, injuries have recently affected his development and he is now facing another lengthy treatment period, with reports suggesting his season could be over before it really begins.
Dans produced some memorable moments for Liverpool
Dans remains popular with fans even after the breakout season in 2023/24.
Under Jurgen Klopp, he provided some of his most memorable moments, most notably scoring twice in the 3-0 win over Southampton in the FA Cup and contributing to the win against Chelsea in the League Cup final.
However, difficult days continue for the academy’s brightest prospects under Arne Slott.
Slott’s mistrust of young people has drawn considerable criticism.
| team | Appearance | the goal | assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool U18 | 33 | twenty four | 4 |
| Liverpool U21 | 16 | 5 | 2 |
| Liverpool (Senior) | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Liverpool FC YL | 2 | 1 | – |
| total | 61 | 33 | 7 |
With Slots prioritizing a massive summer half-billion recruitment drive over promotion from within, there are growing concerns that development pathways for talent like Dans and Rio Ngmoha are being ignored in favor of experienced senior players, regardless of form.
