Hugo Ekitike's World Cup dreams were agonisingly stripped of him when the forward sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon in Liverpool's UEFA Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain in April.
Ekitike was expected to feature in Didier Deschamps' squad for the tournament in North America when he slipped on the pitch at Anfield and had to be stretchered off.
Liverpool later confirmed the 24-year-old had suffered a serious Achilles rupture and Ekitike underwent successful surgery to repair the tendon.
Ekitike spent the summer rehabilitating in Los Angeles with acclaimed physiotherapist Berengar Buschmann before returning to the AXA Training Centre last month to continue his recovery.
His absence is a major blow for new Reds boss Andoni Iraola as the Spaniard finds his forward options stretched heading into the new campaign, but the former Bournemouth head coach is optimistic Ekitike will still play a major role for Liverpool in the latter stages of the season.
We've taken a look at the earliest possible date Ekitike could return to first-team action.
When is Hugo Ekitike expected to return from injury?
Athletes typically spend between six to eight months on the sidelines as a result of a ruptured Achilles tendon.
So Ekitike still faces a long road ahead, even though it's been four months since he sustained the injury.
French media outlet L'Equipe reported an optimistic return date of 26th December for Ekitike, but it's likely the Frenchman will not be available until the new year.
Ekitike will be targeting a return for the second half of the 2026/27 campaign, with Liverpool currently scheduled to face Manchester United and Everton at the end of January - a period which seems most realistic for the Frenchman's comeback.
