Hugo EkitikePlayer·Hugo Ekitike is targeting a return to Liverpool duty by Boxing Day as he accelerates his recovery from the ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his season and denied him a first World CupCompetition·World Cup with France.
The forward suffered the injury in April during Liverpool's Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League second-leg meeting with his former club Paris Saint-GermainTeam·Paris Saint-Germain, leaving the pitch in clear distress and bringing a productive debut campaign at AnfieldVenue·Anfield to an abrupt halt. Up to that point, he had been one of Liverpool's few consistent threats in a difficult season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions.
Scans later confirmed a rupture in his right Achilles. The French Football Federation and Liverpool both stated that the severity of the problem would rule him out of the remainder of the club campaign and this summer's World CupCompetition·World Cup, underlining the scale of the setback for both club and country.
The comparison with John Barnes, who suffered a similar injury during his own Liverpool career, has framed much of the discussion around Ekitike's long-term outlook. An Achilles rupture is among the most demanding injuries for an attacking player who relies on acceleration, sharp changes of direction and explosive movement in the penalty area.
According to reports in France, Ekitike has been in "immense pain" through the initial stages of his rehabilitation, both physically and emotionally, as he comes to terms with missing a major international tournament at the age when many forwards first establish themselves on the global stage. In recent weeks, he has opted to step back mentally from the constant churn of football as he processes the timing and severity of the injury.
Ekitike underwent surgery in London within days of the incident. The procedure was carried out by a team of American specialists, including the surgeon who operated on Boston Celtics basketball player Jayson Tatum after the NBA star sustained the same type of injury. Tatum's eventual return to action after his own long lay-off offers at least one contemporary reference point for Ekitike's camp as they map out a route back to elite competition.
Liverpool staff are understood to be encouraged by the forward's progress to this point. With his right leg still protected in a boot, Ekitike has focused on building upper-body strength and maintaining overall conditioning so that he can transition more quickly into pitch-based work once weight-bearing and running drills are cleared by the medical team.
Visibly, Ekitike has remained close to the club environment. He appeared on the pitch on crutches after Liverpool's final game of the season against BrentfordTeam·Brentford, acknowledging supporters at AnfieldVenue·Anfield despite his enforced absence from the run-in. That presence on the turf, even in a supporting role, underlined both his status in the squad and the scale of the void created by his injury.
On the international stage, the consequences are equally stark. This summer's World CupCompetition·World Cup was set to be his first major tournament with France, but national-team plans have had to adjust. Throughout the process, he has received regular messages and calls from France team-mates, while Didier Deschamps has been in frequent contact to monitor his mood and progress. There is also the possibility that Ekitike travels to the United States to briefly join up with the French squad during the tournament, turning a lost World CupCompetition·World Cup into a chance to stay connected with the group.
For Liverpool, the timing of his expected Boxing Day return shapes the club's attacking options for the first half of next season. An Achilles rupture typically requires a rehabilitation window measured in months rather than weeks, and Liverpool must balance optimism around his target date with the need to manage risk in the final stages of recovery. Until he is back, the forward line will need to adapt without a player who had quickly become a focal point in their build-up and penalty-area threat.
The next phase of Ekitike's recovery will be decisive. Moving from gym work to controlled football-specific drills will test the repaired tendon and his confidence in equal measure. How quickly he regains his previous explosiveness, and how carefully Liverpool calibrate his minutes on return, will go a long way to determining whether his Boxing Day ambition turns into a realistic first step in the next chapter of his career at AnfieldVenue·Anfield.
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike on crutches at Anfield after the 1-1 draw with Brentford. Credit: Propaganda Photo/IMAGO
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