Liverpool youngster who starred in Carabao Cup final had knee condition that sidelined him for nearly a year

Liverpool starlet Jayden Danns had a knee condition that ruled him out for almost a year before playing in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.

The 18-year-old, who is the son of former Crystal Palace and Bolton midfielder Neil Danns, played 33 minutes at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

He almost scored a famous header in extra time, but was unable to keep his effort down and it was well saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

Danns also showed a number of good touches, and added much-needed energy to a depleted Liverpool side in the closing stages of the matchup.

The forward had only made his senior debut four days earlier, as he came off the bench for the Reds during their 4-1 win over Luton.

And while much has been made about his rapid impact, Danns has actually had a harder journey to the top than many Premier League academy footballers.

He has been on the books at Anfield since the age of eight, when, as per The Athletic, the youngster was spotted by Reds junior recruitment chiefs while playing futsal.

But at U16 level, disaster struck for the youngster when he contracted Osgood-Schlatter's disease in his knees.

According to Harvard Health, the condition affects up to 20 per cent of adolescent athletes, and around 10 per cent of children aged 12 to 15, but it is nonetheless rarely talked about in football.

The disease causes severe 'growing pain' in the knee, and is generally caused by 'repeated stress on the patellar tendon'.

Suffering from the condition meant that Danns missed nearly a year of football at what was a critical time in his youth development.

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Speaking about his recovery to Liverpool's official website earlier this year, he revealed: "In the space of such a short time, I think I went from 5ft 2in to 6ft.

"I was out for eight months and that was a tough time for me. You're thinking, 'Why is this happening to me?'

"Obviously when you get back, you start to appreciate it so much. Coming back, I just tried to get the most out of what I can really."

Danns also spoke about how the condition may have inadvertently placed him at an advantage in terms of his future development.

"It makes you learn things and learn different ways to improve. If you look at me last season, I don't think I was as powerful. I was bit more leggy and Bambi-like!

"This season. I'm really filling out into my body and I'm just enjoying my football at the moment."

Danns is not the only Premier League to have suffered from Osgood-Schlatter's disease, with Chelsea captain Conor Gallagher also contracting the condition in his teens.

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is among the other players to have gone through the condition.