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Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster is eyeing a comeback in pre-season after undergoing a second operation.

The 17-year-old frontman was expected to be sidelined for three to four months after surgery to repair ligaments in his right ankle in January.

However, it will now be July before he's back on the training field after he had another operation on his knee.

The England youth international damaged his meniscus in the same incident when he landed awkwardly after jumping for a header playing for Liverpool Under-23s against Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp, who rates the Academy striker highly, has helped to keep Brewster's spirits high by inviting him to do his rehabilitation at Melwood.

Liverpool Under-23s boss Neil Critchley said: "The knee operation is not going to alter much the timeline on Rhian coming back.

"It happened at the same time as when he hurt his ankle. The ankle was the major issue - that was where he was getting the most pain - but the knee wasn't quite right.

"It's not a major thing but as he's out anyway they took the opportunity to get it sorted.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"The hope is that Rhian will be back fit in pre-season, whether that's at the start or towards the end we don't know yet. He's got a good few months of rehab ahead of him and we'll keep reviewing where he's at."

It's been a season of highs and lows for Brewster, whose goal-scoring heroics inspired England to Under-17 World Cup glory in October.

In December he claimed he had been racially abused by Spartak Moscow's Leonid Mironov during a match at Prenton Park and then the following month he had to be stretchered off against City.

Critchley is convinced he will bounce back strongly.

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"Rhian is a level-headed boy," he said.

"He's very humble, he didn't get carried away by success and that's credit to his family.

"Yes, he was down for a bit but when I spoke to him last week he was positive and optimistic. He's a bubbly character and that will help him.

"He's at Melwood doing his rehab. That was the manager's decision and it shows the faith he's got in him.

"Rhian came to watch us play last week on his crutches. That's the kind of boy he is. He loves the social aspect of being part of a team."

* Liverpool Under-23s are back in action on Friday night when they face Manchester United at Anfield (7pm KO). The Kop will be open and tickets cost £3 for adults and £1 for concessions.

Tickets must be bought in advance and there will be no sales after 5pm on Friday. It's free for season ticket holders and members but they must get a paper ticket from Anfield before 5pm on Friday.