Liverpool's recent injury blows may be less than opportune for Jurgen Klopp, but the opposite could be true for Curtis Jones.
The absences of Harvey Elliott, Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara may have handed the 20-year-old a one-way ticket into the Liverpool midfield.
Jones has dazzled for Liverpool with attack-fuelled performances and a belting goal as he returned to the starting XI against Brentford, Porto and Norwich.
On Tuesday, the Liverpudlian bagged two assists and was heavily involved in the build up for two others, as Liverpool ran rampant with a 5-1 victory at the Estadio do Dragao.
Following the dazzling display, former Red Michael Owen claimed that the Liverpool youngster is in need of a long run in the first team.
Curtis Jones (left) was heavily involved in Liverpool's 5-1 victory over Porto on Tuesday night
The 20-year-old scored a belting Premier League goal against Brentford on Saturday too
'It's about time for his sake of his career that he has a long run in the team,' said Owen.
'Maybe the unfortunate situation with a couple of injuries is going to help along that way and when you get that chance you've got to do exactly what he did tonight and he had a hand in four of the five goals.'
And, Jones has just been handed the chance to do just that.
Jones had to be patient at the start of the season, mostly due to Elliott's unexpected impact, but now an opportunity beckons after he started each of his team's last three games.
The Reds have been hit with a wave of injuries in Klopp's engine room, which may seem like a blow for the squad but could help Jones with his bid to play more often.
Captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are locked and loaded automatic picks in Liverpool's midfield and with Klopp favouring a 4-3-3 formation that leaves just one coveted spot for Jones, Elliott, Keita, Thiago and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to contend for.
Juxtaposed with last season's injury crisis, at the start of this campaign the Reds boss appeared to have an embarrassment of riches to pick from, particularly in midfield this season.
At the start of the season, young spark Elliott was starring in that third midfield spot and appeared to be on an unstoppable upwards trajectory.
Harvey Elliott's injury against Leeds was cruel but does provide opportunities in the squad
But life is cruel. For an 18-year-old Liverpool fan living the dream, it quickly became a nightmare.
An unfortunate but serious ankle injury sustained against Leeds has curtailed the youngster's ambitions. Yet one player's agony, is another player's opportunity.
Keita and Thiago are also viable candidates looking to snatch up a starting spot in midfield but injuries don't further their case.
The Guinea international is desperately clinging to contention for a spot in the engine room but is far too injury-prone to cement his place under the Reds boss.
He has missed a total of 54 games for Liverpool through an array of injuries, his most
