How injured Liverpool youngster could play a big role in getting Reds back to their best this season - opinion
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Alisson Becker returning will help the Reds no end, but as the Liverpool coaching staff attempt to diagnose their issues, they should also earmark the comeback of another injured star: Stefan Bajcetic.Bajcetic has not played for Liverpool since the final days of the 2023/24 campaign and has spent the early part of this season recuperating from hamstring surgery over the summer.There have been recent suggestions that Bajcetic should be back soon, however, and with Ryan Gravenberch starting to show signs of fatigue once again, that could be key for Slot.Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty ImagesStefan Bajcetic can ease load on Ryan GravenberchSome Liverpool supporters may not have noticed that Gravenberch has dropped off ever so slightly from his glory days of last season.However, the 23-year-old has been hit and miss for much of the campaign so far.READ MORE:Gravenberch was criticised after playing for the Netherlands on Friday, with pundits labelling his display against Poland as ‘lazy’.Rather than an indictment of the midfielder’s attitude, perhaps Gravenberch is simply starting to tire after playing so much football over the past year. His performance against Man City last weekend suggested he is not at his effective best.
Who has been Liverpool’s best summer signing? Once his recovery is complete, the Spaniard must be used efficiently to ensure Gravenberch is at his brilliant best when it really matters.When will Bajcetic return to action?Recent reports suggest that Bajcetic will initially begin a phased return by playing for the U21s in the weeks following the November international break.From there, the hope will be that the Spain U21 international can slowly make his way back to featuring regularly for the first-team.Slot did not seem hugely convinced by Bajcetic during the 2024 pre-season schedule.
However, he has since done well in La Liga with Las Palmas and deserves the chance to build on his excellent start to life at Liverpool three years ago.Bajcetic has become something of a forgotten man at Anfield as a result of his disruptive injury issues. But if he can finally put that all behind him, he has the potential to be a genuine first-team player for Liverpool.Gravenberch will certainly welcome someone who can make his life easier, and that could be the difference between winning and losing for Liverpool this season.