Liverpool are facing a shortage in the striking department after news arrived that Alexander Isak is set for a lengthy injury lay-off.
The Swede was hit like a ton of bricks by Micky van de Ven while scoring against Tottenham on Saturday and reports suggest the challenge resulted in a broken leg.
While it remains to be seen exactly how long Isak will miss, the expectation is that he will be facing months out of the team.
How concerned are you about Alexander Isak’s injury?
With Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo also currently injured, Arne Slot can name only Hugo Ekitike, Federico Chiesa and young Rio Ngumoha as his forward options.
The door has opened for a new name to come through, and while Liverpool could dip into the January transfer market, they could also solve the problem internally by promoting Jayden Danns to the first team. Danns has been hit with bad luck on the injury front himself, but is nearing a return.
Jayden Danns set for New Year return
If Isak has been unlucky since joining Liverpool, then Danns very much knows how he feels.
The 19-year-old has barely played over the past 18 months having initially been expected to kick on under Slot.
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A loan move to Sunderland last January ultimately never came to fruition, as fitness issues robbed Danns the chance to prove himself in the Championship.
He has played this season, featuring for the final 15 minutes of Liverpool’s Carabao Cup win over Southampton in September.
The Scouser subsequently picked up another injury, but according to a report from The Daily Mail in early December, Danns is stepping up his return.
They claimed that the teenager is on course for a comeback ‘early in the New Year’, and although there is said to be interest in a potential loan move, Danns is likely to stay at Liverpool to work on staying fit.
Will Danns be given a chance?
Had Danns been just a little quicker on his return to fitness, there is every likelihood he would have been given a chance by Slot.
The Liverpool head coach clearly rates him, having picked him during both his seasons at the club so far.
However, the Reds do need to be extra careful with the workload given to Danns. With his comeback arriving some weeks on from Isak’s injury, it may be too late for him by the time he is ready for minutes.
The door is certainly open if Danns can prove he is fit to walk through it. It may just be the piece of luck he needs to kickstart his Liverpool career once again.
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