Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has reportedly been ruled out of Saturday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth due to an ankle injury.
The 22-year-old was named on the bench for last weekend's opening 1-1 draw against Chelsea, as Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo formed an attack-heavy engine room.
Jones came off the bench for the final 24 minutes of that encounter, and he was not name-checked by Jurgen Klopp as a fitness concern in Friday's pre-game press conference.
However, according to The Athletic, the England Under-21 international will not be available to face the Cherries due to a twisted ankle, which he sustained in a training session this week.
Jones's issue is not believed to be a serious one, though, and there is hope that he will be fine for the Reds' fixture against Newcastle United on August 27.
Nevertheless, the Englishman's absence further depletes Klopp's midfield options ahead of the visit of Andoni Iraola's side, as both Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain in the recovery phase.
Bajcetic's breakthrough 2022-23 season was cut short due to an adductor injury, while Thiago - who has been bedevilled by numerous fitness concerns on Merseyside - is dealing with a hip issue.
Klopp told the press on Friday that the Spanish duo were both "close" to making their comebacks, but neither man will be able to play a part against Bournemouth, saying: "Stefan Bajcetic, really close but not there yet. Obviously we really count on him.
"Thiago Alcantara the same – slightly similar profile, obviously much more experienced as well, but not there yet. So we need to just give them time. We cannot rush that. That all will look completely different after the international break but until then we have super-important games."
However, Liverpool reinforced their ravaged midfield on Friday with the capture of Japan international and former Stuttgart captain Wataru Endo, who is set to slot into Fabinho's number six position.
The Japan international has joined the Reds on a four-year deal for a €19m (£16.2m) deal after Liverpool lost out to Chelsea in the race for both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Endo will be eligible to make his debut against Bournemouth so long as he was registered by 12pm on Friday, and the lynchpin did take part in a DFB-Pokal clash with Balingen on August 12, in what proved to be his final game for Stuttgart.
While Klopp has affirmed that Endo's fitness will not hinder his chances of an Anfield debut this weekend, the Reds boss is still not sure whether he will be given the green light by the Premier League.
"Endo is now in and he's allowed to train this afternoon. If he's allowed to participate in the game tomorrow, I don't know, we will see that," Klopp added.
Without Jones or Endo in the ranks, Klopp seems set to name an unchanged midfield from the draw at Stamford Bridge, although Harvey Elliott is an alternative option in the centre of the park. body check tags ::
