Curtis Jones is still a number of weeks away from returning to action due to ‘freak’ eye injury

Liverpool’s team doctor has admitted that Curtis Jones will be sidelined for ‘a number of weeks’ after sustaining a ‘freak’ eye injury. 

The 20-year-old missed Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League after being poked in the eye during a training session.

Jim Moxon has said that Jones will have ‘no lasting damage and that his vision won’t be impacted’ but admits he won’t make a ‘speedy return’. 

Doctor Jim Moxon told the club’s official website: ‘It’s a freak injury and very unlucky, but the important thing to emphasise is there is no lasting damage and his vision won’t be impacted beyond the recovery period.

‘However, the nature of the issue means caution is important; we need to allow it time to heal and we can’t rush it, therefore it won’t be a speedy return.

‘It needs to mend before we are able to reintroduce Curtis to full training, but there are things he can do in the meantime to maintain fitness.

‘We can’t put a specific timescale on a return beyond it will be a number of weeks from now as it heals naturally, so it’s not one we will risk and patience is a virtue with this specific recovery.’

The accident took place during a Liverpool training session ahead of their Champions League clash with Madrid. 

The 20-year-old sustained a ‘finger to the eye’ – causing manager Jurgen Klopp to say Jones needed ‘to lie down for a week.’ 

Speaking to BT Sport before the game against Madrid, Klopp said: ‘Unfortunately we lost Curtis Jones last night in training. 

‘He had a finger to the eye.  Some of the things that can happen in life are extraordinary!’. 

Klopp added after the game: ‘You need to be lucky with injuries here and there, and we are not that lucky. Especially in midfield.

‘Last night in training, Curtis got a finger to the eye and cannot see out of it. He needs to lie down for a week.’