Liverpool confirms return of forgotten star two years after last game for club
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Liverpool.com or go back to LFC Live.
Liverpool has been boosted by the return of one of its injured players to training as the Reds continue their pre-season preparations in Chicago ahead of their first friendly against SunderlandAndoni Iraola has been boosted by the return of one of his injured players to training(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool has confirmed that Stefan Bajcetic is back in training, more than two years on from his last first-team appearance for the Reds.Andoni Iraola’s side is currently in Chicago, where the club’s players are gearing up for their first pre-season friendly of the summer against Sunderland in Nashville this weekend. Liverpool’s new head coach is still missing a number of his stars, with eight players yet to return following their involvement in the World Cup.Iraola’s plans have also been hit by injury problems, with Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, and Hugo Ekitike continuing their recoveries from long-term issues, while Bajcetic and Wataru Endo have also missed out on the early training sessions out in the US.Endo was forced to pull out of the World Cup earlier this summer, and subsequently retired from international duty with Japan as a result of a foot injury, while Bacjetic has been out since undergoing surgery on his hamstring nearly 14 months ago.After Iraola revealed that the pair were close to rejoining their teammates upon landing in Chicago, though, Bajcetic has now been pictured back in training with the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Milos Kerkez, and Jeremie Frimpong.The 21-year-old’s return will come as a big boost to Liverpool, with Bajcetic having gone through a nightmare few years after breaking into Jurgen Klopp’s team during the 2022/23 season.Stefan Bajcetic has not played a first-team game for Liverpool since 2024Bajcetic quickly became one of the positives in an otherwise poor campaign for the Reds and was showered with praise by the Reds’ legendary manager."Top talent, super player,” Klopp said of Bajcetic’s breakthrough.
Since he is with us it is a pure joy to work with him."I think the mix of Serbia and Spain is a good one for football. If you meet him he is a top, intelligent boy and it is a joy to work together.”Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.
Learn moreLiverpool FC have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27, inspired by iconic adidas strip worn during the club's 1989/90 title-winning campaign.Unfortunately for Bajcetic, his season was cut short by injury after making 19 senior appearances, including starting against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Since then, he has played just three times for the Reds’ first team.He spent the 2024/25 season away on loan with Red Bull Salzburg and Las Palmas, making 33 appearances in total for the two clubs, but was unable to play a single game last season after undergoing surgery in the summer of 2025.Liverpool.com says: It’s great to see Bajcetic back training with the first-team, and fingers crossed he can stay there now for a long time.It’s easy to forget just how good he looked when he burst into the side a few years ago, given how little with seen of him since then.