Hugo Ekitike eyeing December return to action for Liverpool

Hugo Ekitike is continuing his recovery from a serious achilles injury and hopes to return to competitive action for Liverpool before the end of the year, according to L’Equipe.

Ekitike has been sidelined since rupturing his right Achilles tendon during the Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain on April 14.

The 24-year-old was beginning to establish himself for the France national team and was expected to lead the line at the 2026 World Cup.

However, his prolonged absence allowed other attacking options to emerge for Les Bleus. Esteban Lepaul started at centre-forward in France’s win over Belgium.

He was also thriving with the Reds, bagging 17 goals and six assists in 45 appearances. Ekitike will need to fight to reclaim his place on both fronts when he eventually returns.

Ekitike is fully committed to his rehabilitation. He was in Reims in August to give the ceremonial kick-off for a match involving his former club.

He subsequently spent part of September continuing his rehabilitation at France’s national training centre in Clairefontaine before returning to Liverpool to continue his treatment.

Ekitike also recently travelled to the United States to consult a specialist as he looks to ensure his recovery remains on track.

He has now started jogging, although there is considerable uncertainty over when he will be ready to resume full training and competitive football.

Achilles injuries can be difficult to predict, with recovery timelines heavily dependent on how the player’s body responds at each stage of rehabilitation.

Ekitike is still targeting a return to training around November, with a potential comeback in competitive action pencilled in for the following month.