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Hugo Ekitike (23), who ruptured his right Achilles two months ago, is targeting a competitive return with Liverpool in late December 2026, for the Premier League’s Boxing Day fixtures. L’Equipe has written a feature on the Frenchman’s rehabilitation process after the serious injury he sustained with the Reds against PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals.
A couple of days after rupturing his Achilles, Ekitike underwent surgery in London after discussion with American specialists, including the surgeon that overseen Jayson Tatum’s operation after the Boston Celtics player’s Achilles rupture. Meanwhile, L’Equipe reports that Ekitike’s last two months have been marked by “immense pain”, prompting the Liverpool centre-forward to ignore most of the messages of support he receives, as if high-level football “ceased to exit“.
The outlet understands that France national team manager Didier Deschamps regularly calls him to offer words of support, as do his France and Liverpool teammates. Liverpool medical teams’ progress reports are said to be positive with Ekitike working on his upper-body strengt, so he doesn’t have too much of a lag when he can finally take his boot off and put weight on his foot.
L’Equipe adds that Ekitike could meet up with his France teammates in the coming weeks on America’s Eastern seaboard, where Les Bleus will play their three World Cup group stage games. The France international intends to return to training in autumn before getting back into competitive action on Boxing Day.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval