Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been boosted by the news that one key player will be available for his side’s clash with Nottingham Forest this weekend.
The Reds welcome Nuno Espirito Santo’s side to Anfield on Saturday afternoon, as they look to continue their perfect start to the Premier League season.
Slot’s men have won their opening three matches of 2024/25, winning 2-0 and 3-0 away to Ipswich Town and Manchester United respectively, as well as seeing off Brentford 2-0 at home.
Liverpool have been relatively fortunate in the injury department since the new boss came in, but that’s not to say that there haven’t still been players unavailable.
Curtis Jones is yet to play a single minute this season, Harvey Elliott is out for an extended period with a fractured foot and Alexis Mac Allister went off with a knock on international duty with Argentina.
According to Football Insider, however, Jones will be available for selection against Forest, having returned to full training after a muscle problem.
The report says that the 23-year-old “has been given the all-clear by Liverpool’s medical and fitness staff to make his playing return”, as he looks to kick on under Slot.
Our thoughts on Jones’ injury return for Liverpool…
Having Jones back in the fold is a massive boost for Liverpool, especially with Elliott now out, but he has his work cut out when it comes to winning his place back in the midfield.
Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister have excelled alongside one another in a double pivot, while Dominik Szoboszlai has also been in superb form further up the pitch.
Jones is such a huge talent, and can still have a great career at Liverpool, but these injuries need to stop, with constant absences stunting his progress.
He has shown what a key man he can be in the past, in terms of his ball retention, work rate and technical ability – he enjoyed a 91.5% pass completion rate in the league last season – but he has reached a point in his career where he needs to be available far more often and show that he is more mature than ever.
