Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Arne Slot has suffered a blow to his pre-season plans(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Liverpool star Stefan Bajcetic is facing a race against time to play a part in the Reds' pre-season programme.

Bajcetic enjoyed a stunning rise into Liverpool's first-team over the course of the 2022/2023 campaign.

The midfielder beame the Reds' youngest-ever player in the Champions League when he replaced Thiago in a game against Ajax.



In a bid to reinvigorate his career, Bajcetic was sent out on loan to Red Bull Salzburg, under former Jurgen Klopp assistant Pep Lijnders.

That move proved to be disastrous though, with Lijnders sacked and Salzburg cutting short Bajcetic's loan in January.

That led to another loan move to Las Palmas, where he became a key player.

The 20-year-old made 14 appearances in total for the Canary Islanders, though was unable to save them from relegation to the Segunda División.

Bajcetic has been forced to undergo surgery on the issue, which he picked up during Las Palmas' defeat to Sevilla on 15 May.

Article continues below

He has started his rehabilitation after going under the knife, but it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to take part in pre-season.

Those hopes have now been dashed though, with Bajcetic facing an uphill battle to return to full fitness.

Stefan Bajcetic has been forced to undergo surgery on a hamstring injury(Image: Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

The midfielder had been left desperately disappointed with the way his season played out.