The football cliché "like a new signing" is often over used, but could Giovanni Leoni be the most like a new signing in Liverpool history? The Italian centre-back ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on debut against Southampton over a year ago, and has not been seen since, but there is now a positive update with regards his fitness.
As reported by Gregg Evans of the Athletic, Leoni is "expected return to full training in a fortnight". He adds that the Italian defender has undergone his entire rehabilitation at AXA Training Centre, despite the fact it is common for players to return home when sidelined for such an elongated period.
Evans notes that the teenager "understandably endured some difficult days", but he decided to remain on Merseyside to "build stronger relationships with staff" and improve his English. He notes that Leoni will cautiously be eased back into action, suggesting that his return could come in the EFL Trophy; Rob Page's under-21 side face Doncaster Rover next Tuesday, which will come too soon, but also take on Huddersfield Town in that competition on 10 November.
So, it could be a little while yet until Kopites see Leoni back at Anfield, but his imminent return will be a major boost for Andoni Iraola. Right now, Jérémy Jacquet has rather stolen the Italian's thunder, looking exceptional since debuting against Newcastle, forming a brilliant understanding with captain Virgil van Dijk pretty much from day one. The Frenchman was named man of the match at Bournemouth during the Reds' most-recent outing, before earning his first-ever senior cap for les Bleus against Belgium in Brussels on Monday night.
However, Liverpool do lack centre-back depth. Joe Gomez's sole appearance of the campaign thus far came in the EFL Cup, after picking up an injury during pre-season, while Ronald Araújo is now the first-choice right-back, following less than convincing performances by Jeremie Frimpong.
Thus, even though the Jacquet-van Dijk partnership appears pretty set in stone for now, there will be plenty of opportunities for Leoni, once he gets up to full speed. Arriving from Parma for £26 million, despite having made only 17 Serie A appearances for I Gialloblu, he was one of the highest-rated young defenders in Europe, and bringing him to Anfield was viewed as a real coup by those in Italy.
Thus, it was heartbreaking to see him suffer such a serious injury towards the end of his debut, having performed exceptionally as Arne Slot's side ousted Southampton 2-1 from the EFL Cup. Thus, whenever he is next in action at Anfield, expect Leoni to receive a hero's reception.
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