'Very disappointed' - Liverpool loan star could never play for Millwall again amid huge injury blow

Millwall loanee Calum Scanlon has returned to his parent club Liverpool for treatment on a serious injury, Lions head coach Neil Harris has confirmed in what is a blow for the Championship outfit.

The 19-year-old joined Millwall towards the end of the transfer window as the club's ninth summer signing, putting pen to paper on a season-long loan deal. Scanlon is a product of the Liverpool youth set up and signed his first professional contract in March 2022.

The defender made his professional debut for Liverpool in a Europa League tie against Toulouse last October and his spell at Millwall was to be his first loan stint away from Merseyside. Scanlon has made just one appearance for Millwall, a cameo against Luton Town last weekend, but there is now potential he doesn't feature for the club again amid a serious injury.

Harris refused to rule out the chance that Scanlon returns to Millwall but admitted that a timeframe on his injury was too tricky to tell at this stage. Speaking after the draw against QPR, he said: "He's got a stress fracture in his back, which is a recurring injury from previous which is unfortunate. We're very disappointed to lose him as he was something very different to what we've got in the squad as a very attack minded full-back.

"He's gone back to Liverpool to be treated in the mid term. He's going to be re-scanned at six weeks and then we'll have a better idea of how long it's going to be, whether he'll be back soon after that or whether it's going to be an extended period. Anything past that is not in discussion at the moment."

A member of the England youth sides alongside Millwall man Romain Esse, Scanlon was hailed as a 'quick' and 'dynamic' full back by Millwall director of football Steve Gallen when arriving at the club.

In a statement via the club's website, Gallen said: "We're really pleased to get Calum Scanlon into the building. He is a young player and an England youth international who we have been tracking for a few months now.

"He is quick, dynamic and loves getting forward and will provide good competition in the defensive area. I'd like to thank Liverpool for their help throughout the process and I look forward to seeing Calum flourish at The Den."