Harvey Elliott has certainly impressed James Milner. The veteran is trying to help out as the teenager battles back from injury.
Harvey Elliott’s injury is undoubtedly the low point of Liverpool’s season. The 18-year-old was thriving in his new midfield role, establishing himself as a first-team player for the Reds.
That’s above and beyond anything we thought we’d see this season – let alone right from the start. It’s clear to everyone watching that Elliott is something special and Liverpool undoubtedly see that.
But it means the injury was a real blow. Elliott will now be out for some time right as he was enjoying the brightest period of his career.
Fortunately, it sounds as though his mentality around it all is outstanding. It’s impressing James Milner, certainly.
Milner on Elliott
“He’s been so positive from the start, to be honest,” Milner told Liverpoolfc.com. “I was talking about mental strength before, as soon as it happened, the things he was saying, he talks like he’s been through it all before and he’s a 30-odd-year-old player.
“He’s incredible. He’s got a great mindset, he’s done all his work, he’s progressing really well. Not too far off getting rid of the crutches, I think, which is fantastic.”
Elliott’s attitude is something we’ve talked about before. He’s consistently outstanding with his mindset, from understanding his role at Liverpool to not getting carried away with last season’s success.
It’s almost as important as his technical ability. There’s no worry that Elliott will get distracted or make poor career decisions – he knows what he’s doing, even as an 18-year-old with little experience.
And that’s all very impressive. Liverpool don’t just have a sensational talent to work with here but someone they can really put faith in. Elliott’s development is a whole lot easier when you don’t need to worry about him doing anything silly.
It also means his recovery process shouldn’t be a headache. Instead, Liverpool can rely on Elliott to do everything he needs to.
And that, hopefully, means we see him back on the pitch before long.