An injury that might keep CONOR Bradley out for months has derailed his ambitions of breaking through with Liverpool this season.
After spending last season on loan with Bolon Wanderers, the Aghyaran youth returned to Anfield this summer with the expectation of playing time at right back.
But the 20-year-old may not play again until late this year at the earliest due to a stress fracture in his back, as revealed by his Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill.
Bradley is not traveling with Northern Ireland for their upcoming Euro 2016 qualifying games against Slovenia and Kazakhstan at the beginning of next month, and manager Michael O’Neill is concerned that he may not play again this season.
“Conor’s back issue prevents him from participating in these games. Going ahead, I think he’d be a huge question mark. Conor’s stress fracture meant he’d be out of commission for around a month.These are common injuries among young athletes. He has a lot of game experience after appearing in several contests last year. You need to take extra precautions with a young athlete and that kind of injury. It’s not unheard of for young players to suffer from this, so please be patient.
Bradley’s chances of seeing regular playing time increased as Liverpool loaned out another promising right back, Calvin Ramsay, to Preston North End for the next season.
‘He’s a guy who was having a terrific pre-season at Liverpool, and some of the choices that teams make in respect to other players gives you an idea of where the likes of Conor is in their mind,’ O’Neill said.
He should focus on getting well and back on the field first, and then Liverpool can reevaluate his status in the new year.
After what I’d estimate to be a four-week break, he’s back at Liverpool. I have been in contact with him since he began treatment.
We were well aware of the fact that he had no shot of making these games, and I fear that October will also arrive a little too soon for him.
A November return is ideal, but you have to be cautious with injuries of that kind. I’m not sure I can make that kind of a commitment.
