Liverpool Youngster Suffers ‘Serious’ Injury Blow and Faces Four Months Out | OneFootball

Calum Scanlon’s Season Cut Short: Liverpool Loanee Suffers Major Setback at Millwall

Liverpool’s march towards silverware continues to gather momentum, but the club faces another frustrating injury blow—this time involving young defender Calum Scanlon. The 19-year-old left-back, currently on loan at Millwall, has been officially ruled out for up to 16 weeks due to a serious hamstring injury, casting doubt over his immediate future and development.

Liverpool’s Injury Woes Persist Despite On-Field Success

The Reds recently delivered an emphatic 4-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, overturning a first-leg deficit to book their place in the Carabao Cup final. Goals from Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Virgil van Dijk underlined Liverpool’s dominance and set up a tantalising final against Newcastle United. With their eyes on securing a record-extending 11th League Cup title, Arne Slot’s side appears unstoppable—except when it comes to injuries.

Just last weekend, Liverpool briefly enjoyed a fully fit squad against Bournemouth, only for Trent Alexander-Arnold to pick up a knock. While the 26-year-old’s injury is reported to be minor, requiring days rather than weeks to recover, it underscores the fragility of maintaining squad depth throughout a gruelling season.

Now, the focus shifts to Calum Scanlon, whose loan spell at Millwall has been marred by injuries from the outset.

Photo: IMAGO

Scanlon’s Challenging Loan Spell at Millwall

Calum Scanlon joined Millwall in August 2024, hoping to gain valuable first-team experience. However, his time at The Den has been anything but smooth. The young left-back managed just four appearances before injuries began to take their toll.

In September, Scanlon suffered a stress fracture in his back, necessitating a four-month rehabilitation stint back at Liverpool. Upon his return to Millwall in mid-January, Scanlon showed glimpses of promise, notably scoring his first professional goal in a 2-2 draw against Cardiff City.

Unfortunately, that progress was short-lived. During Millwall’s 1-0 win over Luton Town, Scanlon lasted only 17 minutes before pulling up with a hamstring injury. It has since been confirmed that the injury is severe enough to require surgery.

Millwall Manager Alex Neil Confirms Season-Ending Injury

Millwall manager Alex Neil provided a somber update on Scanlon’s condition, confirming the defender’s season is effectively over.

“Unfortunately, Calum has a really bad hamstring injury,” Neil told London News Online. “He required surgery—which he has already had. I believe everything was successful, but it will rule him out for 16 weeks.”

With the recovery timeline extending into the end of the 2024/25 season, Scanlon will return to Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre to continue his rehabilitation.

“That will take him to the rest of the season. He will go back to Liverpool. We’re naturally upset for him and disappointed for ourselves. We have a really strong and dynamic young player who is unavailable for us.”

Photo: IMAGO

Neil acknowledged the physical demands of modern football, noting that injuries are increasingly common due to the athletic nature of the game.

“The nature of the game is that injuries are a big part of the game at the moment because it’s so athletically based.”

However, Neil also hinted that Scanlon might not have featured heavily even if he had remained fit:

“Callum, if I’m honest, wouldn’t have played the minutes with the bodies we have in. He played those games in succession due to the fact we had very limited options available at that point. Hence the fact we’ve done what we have in the window.”

What’s Next for Calum Scanlon and Liverpool?

For Liverpool, Scanlon’s injury is a setback in their broader youth development plans. The club has a strong track record of nurturing young talents, and Scanlon’s loan was seen as a crucial step in his progression. Returning to the AXA Training Centre provides him with access to world-class medical facilities and staff, ensuring his recovery is managed with the utmost care.

As Liverpool continues their pursuit of multiple trophies under Arne Slot, the focus will also be on ensuring the squad remains as healthy as possible. With key fixtures ahead, the Reds can ill afford further injury disruptions. For now, the hope is that both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Calum Scanlon make full recoveries and return stronger.