Nathaniel Phillips recent injury trouble came at worse time for Liverpool’s pre-season star

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Liverpool are currently in something of a defensive injury crisis. When Dejan Lovren limped out of the FA Cup defeat to Wolves in midweek, 16-year-old talent Ki-Jana Hoever made his debut for the Reds.

Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are already out injured and Liverpool are now likely to use Fabinho in a centre-back position.

All of this must be sickening for one current Liverpool player. When the Reds allowed Ragnar Klavan to leave in the summer it was largely down to how impressed Jurgen Klopp had been with youngster Nathaniel Phillips.

The Liverpool Echo reported on how impressed Jurgen Klopp had been with Phillips during pre-season. They claim he was the ‘hidden star’ of the summer as he shocked Liverpool’s first-team boss with his composure at the back.

So he would surely have been given his chance during this current situation. Unfortunately, injury has made sure that won’t happen.

The former Bolton Wanderers talent has not played for the under-23s since November after initially picking up a problem in September.

There is no news on the extent of the injury, but Phillips missed much of last season with a stress fracture in his back so is no stranger to the treatment table.

This latest absence could not have come at a worse time. Phillips could have been in line for his Liverpool first-team bow considering their current situation.

Hopefully he can come back into action soon and continue his excellent development at Melwood.