Liverpool forward will “certainly miss a few games” after scan results – report

Liverpool are a club built on dreams, history, passion, and young players who come through the academy with hope in their hearts that one day they will walk out at Anfield in front of the Kop. Every generation of Liverpool fans remembers the academy talents that grew into legends. Steven Gerrard once walked out of Kirkby with nothing but determination and became captain. Trent Alexander-Arnold followed in the same footsteps, carrying the city on his shoulders. And now, in 2025, another young name had started to echo in Liverpool circles, a teenage striker called Will Wright. At only 17 years old, he had already been making headlines since Liverpool signed him from Salford City in the summer. He was not just another youth signing, he was seen as the kind of fearless forward that could one day light up Anfield. But football is a cruel game, and in just one night, joy turned into pain, because Wright had to be stretchered off in Liverpool’s UEFA Youth League opener against Atletico Madrid.

Fans watching that night held their breath, teammates stood around him in shock, and coaches immediately feared the worst. Injuries to young players are the nightmares every academy prays to avoid, because they can change careers before they even begin. The moment Wright hit the ground clutching his leg, everyone inside the stadium knew it was serious. By the time he was carried away, the worry was overwhelming. Social media exploded with questions about his condition. For a 17-year-old just starting his Liverpool journey, it was a devastating sight.

But now, a few days later, an update has finally arrived, and it brings both relief and sadness. Independent academy journalist Lewis Bower reported on X that Liverpool have confirmed Wright’s injury is not as serious as first feared. Those words gave hope, they allowed fans to breathe again, but Bower’s report carried a heavy truth as well. The teenager will certainly miss a few games. For Liverpool’s academy and for Wright himself, this is still a blow, because every match is a chance to grow, every opportunity matters when you are fighting for your place in one of the biggest clubs in the world.

The scan results revealed the damage but also calmed the worst fears. It is not long term, not the kind of injury that destroys seasons or threatens careers, but it is enough to sideline him for an important stretch of games. And football never stops. While one player is forced to recover, others must step up. That is the story of every academy. Arne Slot, Liverpool’s new manager, has already been thinking about his squad for the upcoming Carabao Cup tie against Southampton at Anfield. These cup games are where dreams are born, where youngsters get the chance to show they can play under the lights. Wright will not be there, but his absence opens doors for others.

Lewis Bower added in his update that James Scanlon, Luke Chambers, and Stefan Bajcetic will play with the U21s to build their fitness. That detail is more than just a throwaway line, because it shows exactly who might be available for Slot’s first domestic cup night in charge. The weekend already gave hints, as several promising talents — Kieran Morrison, Tommy Pilling, Jayden Danns, and Trey Nyoni — were left out of the U21 squad. That decision was not random, it was a signal. It means Arne Slot is preparing to include them with the seniors for the Southampton match. For these young men, Wright’s injury may have closed one door, but it opens another.

Liverpool’s squad for the Southampton game will also have another twist. Some of the biggest names will be rested. It has already been confirmed that Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai will not play. Slot has decided to give them a break, which means Anfield will witness something rare — a Liverpool team filled with new faces, academy graduates, and debutants. For supporters, this is both exciting and nerve-racking. They want to see the stars, but they also live for the moment when a kid from Kirkby makes his first appearance and proves he belongs.

One name almost certain to appear is Rio Ngumoha. The young winger has been earning praise all summer. His pre-season performances impressed Slot so much that he has been included with the first team ever since. Now, reports say he is set to be rewarded with a pay rise, proof that Liverpool believe in him. His rise is another example of how strongly the club rates its graduates. Ngumoha, Morrison, Danns, Nyoni — all of them are about to experience the weight of Anfield, and for Wright, sitting out injured, this must be bittersweet. He knows that this could have been his moment too.

For Wright, the journey has been dramatic since the summer. Liverpool beat Arsenal to sign him from Salford City, after he scored over 50 goals in youth football. He was seen as a statement signing, a boy who could rise through the ranks quickly. The deal was sealed, the shirt was his, and the future looked bright. In pre-season, he worked hard to impress, and when the UEFA Youth League campaign began, all eyes were on him. Then came the cruel twist against Atletico. Injuries do not care about potential, they do not wait for the right time, they strike suddenly.

The images of him being stretchered off are still fresh. But what matters now is recovery, and Liverpool have made it clear that they will protect him, guide him, and make sure he comes back stronger. Every setback can be a lesson, every injury can be a test. For a 17-year-old, missing a few games can feel like the end of the world, but history shows that players who fight through injuries often come back hungrier, sharper, and more determined. Will Wright’s story at Liverpool is only just beginning, and this injury, as painful as it is, may become the chapter that shapes him.

Meanwhile, for Arne Slot, the Southampton game is about more than just winning. It is about building trust in his squad, showing that he believes in the academy, and proving to fans that Liverpool’s future is in safe hands. New signings like Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni could make their debuts, adding even more intrigue. A goalkeeper and a defender brought in to strengthen the spine of the team, standing alongside teenagers making their first steps. It will be a night that blends the old Liverpool spirit with the new era under Slot.

The absence of stars like Salah and Van Dijk gives a rare spotlight to the kids. For Morrison, Danns, Pilling, and Nyoni, this could be life-changing. For Rio Ngumoha, it could confirm his status as the next big thing. And for Will Wright, watching from the sidelines, it is a painful reminder of what he is missing, but also motivation. He will want to come back quickly, to join his peers on that stage, to prove that his story will not be defined by an injury in Spain.

Liverpool supporters, as always, will get behind the youngsters. Anfield has a special way of lifting academy players, of making them feel that they belong. Every touch, every sprint, every tackle from the kids will be cheered. The Kop knows how much these moments mean. And while Southampton may arrive with hopes of an upset, the bigger story will be about the names that carry Liverpool forward into the future.

As for Wright, the relief that his injury is not long term will help him rest easier. He will miss games, yes, but he will not miss his destiny. Liverpool fought hard to sign him, they believe in him, and they will stand by him. The journey is only paused, not ended. For now, his teammates must step into the light, but soon, Wright will return. And when he does, the fans will remember this chapter, the setback, the wait, the hunger, and they will roar for him even louder.

Football is about glory, but it is also about resilience. Liverpool’s story has always been about comebacks, from Istanbul to Barcelona to every fightback in front of the Kop. Now a 17-year-old striker must have his own comeback story. Will Wright will miss a few games, but he will not miss his future. The road continues, and Liverpool’s next generation marches on.