Liverpool youngster Luke Chambers, who is spending the season on loan at Wigan Athletic, is set to remain sidelined for at least another couple of months.

The 20-year-old Reds academy product spent the second half of last season on loan at Wigan and returned to Lancashire in the summer on a season-long deal.

However, Chambers, who was part of the Liverpool squad that went on the pre-season tour of the United States in the summer, sustained a stress fracture to his back in October and has not played since.

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Liverpool World reports that there were some fears that Liverpool would cut Chambers' loan short in January as a result of his injury, but that is not going to be the case, and Wigan boss Shaun Maloney said that he expects the youngster to step up his recovery in January ahead of a possible return to the side in either late February or March.

"Luke's due to come back to us at the end of January to start the next phase of his rehab," Maloney said of Chambers, who has been rehabbing back at his parent club over the last couple of months. "The expectation at the moment is he could even be match ready by the end of February, beginning of March. If I know Luke, he'll be trying to accelerate that, but that's the time frame at the moment.

"There was definitely that fear, so in that sense it's great news. He's such an important player for us... even if it's March, and we get him for eight weeks - or 12 weeks, depending on how the season goes - that will be a boost for everyone."

Chambers appeared four times for the Liverpool first team during the first half of last season, with three of his outings coming in the Europa League and the other coming in the League Cup.

Trent Alexander-Arnold had huge praise for the defender after he made his full debut in a win over Toulouse at Anfield last October, telling TNT Sports: "He has put in all the hard work; he has shown himself. He has been outstanding, he has been in and around the team, on and off the pitch. He plays amazing football as well, so it is amazing to see him out there. He has great potential."