Liverpool defender Calum Scanlon has returned to the club for further evaluation and treatment after suffering an injury during his loan spell at Millwall. The news, reported by James Pearce of The Athletic and shared on X (formerly Twitter), reveals that the 19-year-old fullback has sustained a stress fracture in his back. This injury is expected to keep him sidelined for approximately three months, posing a significant setback for the young defender.
Scanlon’s loan move to Millwall in the Championship had only just begun, with the player making a brief 11-minute appearance in a 1-0 defeat to Luton Town in mid-September. Unfortunately, the injury has cut his season short, and he has since returned to Liverpool to receive further medical treatment. The timeline for his recovery remains uncertain, but it is anticipated that he will be out of action for a few months.
Millwall manager Neil Harris confirmed Scanlon’s departure from the club on Wednesday, expressing disappointment at losing such a promising player so early into his loan. Harris described Scanlon as a unique asset to the team, particularly highlighting his strengths as an attack-minded fullback, which offered something different to Millwall’s existing defensive options. Despite this setback, it is possible that Scanlon could return to Millwall to complete his loan spell once he has fully recovered from his injury.
Scanlon’s injury comes at a time when he was looking to build on his development and gain valuable first-team experience. Having joined Liverpool from Birmingham City in 2020 at the age of 15, Scanlon’s potential has been closely monitored by the club. The deal to bring him to Liverpool reportedly cost around £500,000. Since then, Scanlon has worked his way through the ranks and signed his first professional contract with Liverpool in 2022. His performances have impressed Liverpool’s coaching staff, and he earned two senior appearances for the club during the 2023/24 Europa League campaign, playing in matches against Union SG and Toulouse.
Although this injury is a significant setback for the 19-year-old, Scanlon still has time on his side. At such a young age, he has plenty of opportunities to recover and continue progressing in his career. Depending on how his recovery goes, he might even be able to return to Millwall later in the season to complete his loan spell and gain further experience. However, for now, his focus will be on making a full recovery from this injury.
