Andoni Iraola has revealed that Conor Bradley is close to returning to light training, while Hugo Ekitike is making good progress in his rehabilitation.
Bradley has not played for Liverpool since suffering a serious knee injury during January’s goalless draw against Arsenal. The Northern Ireland international is now back in the gym at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby.
Meanwhile, Hugo Ekitike has been recovering from a ruptured Achilles sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in April.
He has spent time in the United States working with his personal physiotherapist alongside Liverpool’s medical team.
Liverpool have largely relied on Ronald Araujo at right-back during Bradley’s absence, although Jeremie Frimpong started in Wednesday’s 6-3 Champions League victory over LASK.
Speaking on Thursday, Iraola confirmed that Bradley was nearing a return to training more than nine months after his injury at the Emirates.
“They are both doing very well,” Iraola said. “I think they are in a good place. Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group.
“Hugo is a little bit behind that but that was always the plan. He is still doing very well according to the plan.”
Ekitike was at Liverpool’s training base on Thursday, performing skipping exercises in the gym as he continues strengthening his Achilles following the serious injury.
However, Iraola remains reluctant to provide a timeframe for the forward’s return, despite both Ekitike and Bradley being included in Liverpool’s 23-man Champions League squad for the league phase, which concludes in January.
Iraola added: “It’s difficult (to put a timescale on them both). When they have been injured for so long it’s difficult to say but I think Conor is not very far from starting doing things with us.”
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