Liverpool wonderkid Ben Doak is set for an extended period on the sidelines after it was confirmed he needs surgery on a knee injury.
The teenage Scottish winger limped off in an Under-21s fixture against Chelsea last weekend, putting the brakes on what has been stellar progress since he arrived at Anfield from Celtic in 2022.
Doak, 18, has made four starts for Jurgen Klopp's first team this season and has earned rave reviews.
Liverpool assistant boss Pep Lijnders revealed on Tuesday that Doak now requires surgery - and backed him to return stronger than ever.
'That's not a good one,' said Lijnders. 'He tore his lateral meniscus, which needs surgery. That one will take a longer time.
'He is young, he is a fit guy, he is a positive guy. So, for sure, he will come back stronger.
'We need him to come back with the same fire he has with the ball, how he was. We will wait for him.'
Doak signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool in September and has featured regularly throughout their Europa League campaign, but Euro 2024 with Scotland is now on the backburner.