Liverpool defender closing in on return to action after 'mad' summer admission
Conor Bradley would undoubtedly have wanted a less painful example of him becoming fully integrated into the ways of the Liverpool first-team squad.
When the 20-year-old, after featuring in the opening two pre-season friendlies in Germany, was surprisingly not on the plane that jetted out on tour to Singapore, his absence was explained as a "minor injury".
Reds supporters have grown accustomed to such a phrase often being shorthand for a spell on the sidelines for somewhat longer than it suggests. Nevertheless, it was still a significant shock and setback when it emerged Bradley would be out for more than three months with a stress fracture in his back.
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Having returned to Liverpool buoyant after a hugely impressive loan season at League One side Bolton Wanderers, Bradley started the friendlies against Karlsruhe and Greuther Furth in the inverted right-back role before injury struck.
“It's a shame about Conor as he was doing really well,” said Jurgen Klopp at the time, while the Northern Ireland international had already spoken of grasping the initiative in the summer.
"It just feels different to the last time I've been on pre-season," he said. "I'm fighting for a spot now, I want a spot in this squad. I'd say I'm a far better player than last time I was here. It's been mad the last couple of years, but I just want to keep working, keep going, and see where it takes me."
Certainly, opportunities would have been there for Bradley in the Europa League and League Cup in particular. Indeed, Academy graduates Jarell Quansah and Luke Chambers along with teenager Ben Doak
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