LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2015: Liverpool's Danny Ings in action against West Ham United during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Danny Ings targeting “swifter return” after clean ACL tear – reports

Feared to be out for the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during training, Danny Ings is reportedly targeting an early return.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2015: Liverpool's Danny Ings in action against West Ham United during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The former Burnley striker is hopeful of returning before the end of the season, according to reports, after suffering a “clean” tear to his ACL.

Ings was withdrawn from action during his first training session under Jurgen Klopp, joining Joe Gomez on the long-term injury list.

But Ings, who has employed a positive attitude to his recovery since receiving the news, could make an early comeback after surgery on Tuesday.

That is according to Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo.

“The 23-year-old suffered a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament in training at Melwood last week, and will go under the knife in London on Tuesday,” Jones writes.

“Initial fears were that the problem could keep him out of action for up to nine months, ruling him out of the rest of this season as well as next summer’s European Championships.

“Ings, though, is targeting a swifter return.

“The injury is what is known by professionals as a ‘clean’ tear, with the rest of the ligaments and muscles around his left knee unaffected by the issue in his cruciate ligament.”

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 20, 2015: Liverpool's Danny Ings looks dejected after the 1-1 draw with Norwich City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Jones continues to suggest that “a clearer timeframe will emerge once surgery is completed,” but that Ings has already been able to “walk virtually untroubled” since suffering the tear.

Ings told the Telegraph‘s Sam Wallace following his injury that “I am trying to stay as positive as I can be.”

A potentially key player under Klopp, owing to his pace, high work rate and technical ability in the final third, Ings’ recovery will be welcomed by the German.

Though typically a season-ending injury, this “clean” tear could feasibly see Ings return this season.

Roberto Baggio famously recovered from a similar injury in just 76 days in 2002.

A similar timeframe would see Ings return shortly after the new year.

While this would be a best-case scenario, early reports shed a positive light on a deflating situation for the striker.