Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni is now not expected to return from injury until the November international break, according to Andoni Iraola.

The Reds head to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, in what has the potential to be a far greater test than LASK proved to be in the Champions League in midweek.

There was hope that Leoni would be back in the squad by now, but speaking to reporters, Iraola confirmed that he won’t be back in the fold until next month, and his long rehabilitation from ACL damage continues:

“Giovanni’s injury, I wasn’t here but talking to the medical department, it was not just an ACL – it was a bad injury, a lot of things around the knee were involved apart from the ACL.

“He has to be very confident, the rehab process has to be very careful with him and we want to make sure once he comes to the team, he stays there in a good place.

“It’s true that we’ve had, not a setback, but a little bit of a delay, if you want. The plan now is he starts in the next break. It’s not that far but it’s a little bit later than we expected, yes.”

Iraola also provided an update on several other players ahead of the trip to Brentford this weekend, admitting that it is tough to know who might be available:

“It’s early for us to say, we have still tomorrow’s training. Obviously, they were not ready for last night [against LASK]. We have to wait and see. I think it’s still very early but the same way I said they are not available for the previous games, I leave the chance open this time, yes.

“In this period especially, when we are basically playing every three days – almost less than three days – you need more players. That’s why we changed the team a little bit yesterday.

“We will need to change again at the weekend, we will need to change again when we face Villarreal in another three days. We need everyone, we will need everyone in one moment or the other. Everyone has to be ready because we will need him probably.”

Giovanni Leoni must be handled with care by Liverpool

This has been such a cruel year-long absence for Leoni, who is considered one of the most promising young centre-backs in the world, and impressed so much in his one and only Liverpool appearance to date against Southampton in the EFL Cup last season.

While those at the club will clearly be desperate to see him get back as soon as possible, they must look at the long-term picture and not rush the Italian back, risking further issues down the line.

There is enough defensive cover at the moment, and Leoni likely wouldn’t be starting regularly if he was fit anyway, and it’s now a case of easing him back in and gradually giving him minutes.

It would be extremely sad if such a serious injury has taken an edge off the 19-year-old’s game, but on the plus side, his age makes him more likely to make a full recovery.