Jon Flanagan Facing Extended Period Out After Knee Operation

Whenever there’s a positive, there’s more often than not going to be a negative lurking just around the corner. With the news that Daniel Sturridge has returned to light training lifting the spirits of Liverpool fans everywhere, confirmation that fullback Jon Flanagan is set to miss several months after undergoing knee surgery certainly comes as a blow.

The 21-year old has been struggling with fluid in his left knee since being sent home early from the Reds pre-season tour of North America, and though he was targeting last weekends clash with Aston Villa for his comeback, the academy graduate has now gone under the knife to correct the problem and will sidelined for the a number of months while he undergoes rehabilitation.

Flanagan, who hasn’t featured for Liverpool since their friendly win over Preston North End during the summer, did an immense job standing in for both Jose Enrique and Glen Johnson last season as the two veterans struggled with injury problems of their own. His all-action performances not only earned him a senior England cap against Ecuador in a friendly back in June, but they have also put him in line for a new contract with his boyhood club which he is on the verge of signing.

The Reds have a number of injury problems to contend with going into this weekend’s meeting with West Ham United and with the news that Flanagan will be out for a number of months, this latest setback has only exacerbated their defensive woes with Johnson still on the sidelines recovering from a thigh injury he picked up in the loss to Manchester City last month.