Liverpool striker Samed Yesil continues recovery after injury nightmare

Liverpool youngster Samed Yesil took another step towards recovering from two cruciate knee ligament injuries by playing for half an hour for the Under-21s against Fulham.

The 20-year-old has spent the last two years recovering but took a big step in his recuperation by playing 30 minutes of the 2-1 loss on 8 April.

Liverpool Under-21 manager Michael Beale said it will only be a matter of time before the German youth international recaptures his form.

"With Samed, when you get your body back, those little other little things go as well," Beale said. "He's looked better coming back this time than the previous time -- so that's hopeful.

"I know today, he looks a little bit off it but he still has his one chance [on goal] and if it goes in everyone is calling him a hero.

"He is that sort of player, around the box things just tend to fall to him, no-one really knows why but that is the mystique of a centre forward."

Since making two professional appearances for Liverpool in League Cup ties against West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City in September 2012, Yesil has remained on the sidelines at Anfield.

He suffered the first of two knee injuries in February 2013 before a second blow 11 months later in January 2014 saw him miss the last two years of football.

Yesil suffered several niggling injuries after his recovery from the second blow during the Christmas and New Year period, which prevented his return to the Reds youth team but now fit again he is hopeful of finishing the season unscathed.