Liverpool Under-23 boss Neil Critchley has revealed that Danny Ings could feature for the first team in their EFL Cup game against Leicester City on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old was ruled out for the 2016/17 season after sustaining a knee problem during the Reds’ EFL Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in late November.
Ings had a lengthy spell on the sidelines during the 2015/16 campaign as well due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury; he was out of action for seven months.
Although the striker is yet to taste first team action this season, he has featured in five competitive games for Liverpool Under-23s in the present campaign, scoring once.
Ings was taken off in the first half of the Under-23s’ clash with Manchester City at Prenton Park last weekend as a precautionary measure before resuming training with the first team during the past week.
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And Critchley, whose side will take on West Ham United later in the day, stated that Ings may return to first team action against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
“We would be delighted to have him but if we don’t get him and he’s not with us then maybe that means he’s involved with the first team, which would be fantastic as well”, Critchley told the club’s official site.
“If we can help him and get Danny closer to the first team and back on that pitch at Anfield then we will be delighted to assist him in that because he’s been fantastic since he’s been with us.
“He’s a credit to the profession and everyone wants the best for him.
“He came off last Sunday but that was just a precaution.
“He’s been back training this week and if we get him we’ll be delighted, but if not he might possibly be involved with the first team against Leicester, which would give him a big lift as well.”
Ings, who joined Liverpool from Burnley in the summer of 2015, has thus far made just 11 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, scoring three times.
