Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott faces at least a month on the sidelines after fracturing his foot on international duty.
Elliott aggravated an existing issue while away with England Under-21s this month.
The 21-year-old returned to Merseyside and underwent further assessments at the AXA Training Centre.
He did not play for England during their two Under-21 European Championship qualifiers during September’s international break.
Elliott has only featured for seven minutes under Arne Slot so far as Liverpool have made a winning start to their opening three Premier League games.
But with a busy run of fixtures coming up, he was likely to be called upon in the times ahead.
Elliott would have been expected to be used in the League Cup game against West Ham United later this month but will now have to sit out and work his way back to fitness.
He featured 53 times in all competitions for Liverpool last season, providing four goals and 11 assists.
Curtis Jones, meanwhile, has returned to full training ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.
The 23-year-old midfielder missed the last two matches before September’s international break due to a minor muscle problem.
Elliot injury a blow for Liverpool ahead of busy period
Liverpool play seven games in 21 days, starting with the home game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Elliott would have been used, either from the bench or as a starter in some of those games as Slot looks to continue the impressive start to the season.
His absence will come as a blow, despite the other options available to Slot.
Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have all started the season well in the front three positions, while Federico Chiesa was signed to add further competition across the frontline.
Elliott, though, showed his class off the bench on a number of occasions last season as he made an important contribution as an impact substitution, either as an attacking midfielder, wide player or further advanced.
