Liverpool are in bad shape after Harvey Elliott fractured his foot during the international break

Liverpool will be without midfielder Harvey Elliott for at least a month after he fractured his foot during the international break.

Elliott reported discomfort while training with England Under-21s last week and underwent further assessments upon his anticipated return to Merseyside.

He now faces a recovery period amid a busy schedule for his team.

Liverpool will be hoping the setback is not too serious, with Elliott targeting the first game after the next international break for his return. Liverpool host Chelsea on October 20 after the next round of Nations League matches.

The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate as Elliott was set to feature more in the coming weeks as the Champions League campaign gets underway, and Liverpool begin their Carabao Cup defence against West Ham United later this month.

Arne Slot has earmarked Elliott for a deeper midfield role in his revamped squad, with the 21-year-old more likely to be used as an attacking central midfielder rather than a wide midfielder going forward.

He impressed under Slot in pre-season but has so far been limited to substitute appearances during the Dutch manager’s 100 per cent start to his Liverpool career.

International setback

An added frustration is that Elliott will be hoping to break into the senior England team over the coming months and certainly during the World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Liverpool youngster has been one of Lee Carsley’s most consistent performers during the interim England Under-21 manager’s reign and he will be keen to back him to take the next step.

The same goes for team-mate Curtis Jones, who would most likely have featured in the Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland had he not suffered a groin problem. Jones is set to make his first-team return after continuing his recovery over the past fortnight.

Liverpool will also check the fitness of Alexis Mac Allister, who suffered an adductor muscle injury while away with Argentina.

On the positive side, new signing Federico Chiesa has used the last two weeks to sharpen his fitness and will be pushing to be included in the squad that faces Nottingham Forest at Anfield this weekend.