Liverpool youngster promoted to first team 'deeply saddened' after devastating injury blow

Harvey Blair will miss a considerable part of Liverpool's pre-season preparations after suffering a meniscus tear earlier this week.

The 19-year-old forward was one of a number of academy players promoted to the AXA Training Centre for the first day of pre-season on Saturday alongside the likes of Lewis Kumas, Dominic Corness and Bobby Clark.

However, less than a week after preparations for the 2023/24 season began and the versatile forward is now set for a spell on the sidelines after revealing he has suffered a significant knee injury.

Writing in an Instagram post on Thursday evening, Blair said: "After a positive beginning to the new season, I am deeply saddened to say that I sustained a meniscus tear during training earlier this week.

"It is undeniably a challenging setback, but I firmly believe that with the appropriate mindset and the help of God, I will overcome this difficult phase. See you soon reds!"

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Blair, who was handed his senior debut during a League Cup tie at Preston North End in October 2021, spent a significant amount of time on the sidelines with injuries last term and was therefore unavailable for Barry Lewtas' under-21s for much of 2023. However, he had been tipped for a loan move away from Anfield this summer with both Aberdeen and Portsmouth reportedly holding an interest in the youngster.

Such a setback means the forward will play no part in the Reds' upcoming training camp in the Black Forest region of Germany where they will play friendlies against Bundesliga 2 opposition before flying briefly heading back to Merseyside