Liverpool CONFIRM shock Federico Chiesa call amid injury crisis
Liverpool fans have been waiting a long time to get a glimpse of summer signing Federico Chiesa.
The 27-year-old was signed from Juventus towards the end of the summer transfer window for a fee that could reach £12m.
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However, the Italy international has been restricted to only 78 minutes of first-team action thus far with his only start coming back in September in the EFL Cup against West Ham.
Chiesa has only played 18 minutes of Premier League action overall, those minutes coming towards the end of a home victory against Bournemouth.
Chiesa crisis
Since then the Euro 2020 winner has been hit by various issues with Arne Slot admitting that Chiesa was not yet up to the rigours of the English league season.
He has lost his place in the Italy squad with plenty of reports to suggest that Chiesa was in contact with teams in Serie A over the terms of a January move.
Inter and Napoli have been mentioned most frequently as potential destinations with the Reds reportedly considering a loan move to get their big signing up to speed.
Chiesa SCORES for U21s
With Slot and the club putting Chiesa into a so-called mini pre-season in order to get his fitness up there is a chance we could see him back with the first team before the turn of the year.
However, before that, Chiesa is working with the club's under-21 side and has made his long-awaited return to action.
Chiesa was named in the starting lineup for the Reds' Premier League International game against Nordsjaelland on Wednesday night.
He took his place in the XI for the game at the LFC Academy alongside the likes of Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Trent Kone Doherty in a strong-looking lineup.
And after only around 10 minutes, he was on the scoresheet.
Liverpool injury struggles
Liverpool fans will be hoping to see Chiesa build up his form and fitness over the next few weeks in order to come back and help out Arne Slot and his first team squad as soon as possible.
Slot is dealing with an injury crisis with SIX first-teamers currently absent. Among those still out is Diogo Jota and the Reds could really use an extra senior forward option to ease the burden on Mo Salah.