ACL fears as Liverpool star set to miss rest of season

Jaros loan cut short

But Jaros too has now seen his season end due to injury - with the on-loan Ajax goalkeeper requiring surgery on a knee problem.

Jaros had established himself in the Ajax goal following an initially difficult time settling in Amsterdam. But last week he suffered a devastating blow in training - with reports suggesting that the Czech shot-stopper may have damaged an ACL.

"He was in a lot of pain. You still hope it's not too bad, but it didn't look good,” Ajax stand-in manager Fred Grim told ESPN.

Jaros, 24, moved to the Eredivisie side on loan last summer alongside McConnell to work under former Liverpool assistant coach John Heitinga.