Liverpool handed major boost as midfielder makes injury comeback
- Stefan Bajcetic made return to competitive action on Spain Under-21 duty
- 18-year-old came off the bench in 6-0 win at Malta and played at centre-back
- Liverpool to be boosted by his return to fitness having just returned from injury
By Sean Walsh
Liverpool have been strengthened by the return of Stefan Bajcetic to competitive action.
The highly-rated defensive midfielder came off the bench for the last 25 minutes of Spain's Under-21s 6-0 win at Malta in European Championships qualifying on Friday evening.
Bajcetic, who turns 19 in October, enjoyed a breakthrough 2022/23 season at Liverpool despite some of the team's more senior midfielders struggling.
His campaign was cut short in March after suffering a tear in his abductor muscle, only recently returning to Liverpool's matchday squads. Bajcetic was an unused substitute in the Reds' last three games prior to the September internationals.
Interestingly, Bajcetic's return with Spain U21s came in an unfamiliar role, playing the latter stages of their victory as a centre-back.
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In a recent interview published in Liverpool's matchday programme, Bajcetic insisted he is willing to play in any position the manager asks of him.
"At a club like Liverpool you need to always fight for your position," Bajcetic said. "It is never guaranteed.
"Anyone can play in any position, but I know that if I do my job and I push as hard as I can, I will have more chances to play and maybe not just at six. I played left midfield a little bit last season and I just adapt to what the coach says.
"I'm happy to play anywhere. If the coach put me at striker I'd do it."
In addition to Bajcetic, Liverpool only have one other natural holding midfielder in their squad at present - summer signing Wataru Endo. Jurgen Klopp has opted, though, to deploy fellow new recruit Alexis Mac Allister in a deeper role so far this season.
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