The Arsenal forward, 20, is on loan with the Championship side this season but has yet to make his first league start under Marcelo Bielsa.
It is understood the Gunners are looking to recall Nketiah in January in a bid to find him a new club.
And ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Brighton, the caretaker boss had a message for Nketiah.
He said: “I need to be careful, but I think Eddie is a great player.
“If he goes on loan we want him to play football and get minutes otherwise they (players out on loan) can maybe be here. We want them to be on loan to get minutes.
“I feel a bit sorry for him because he is a great player and the future of this club. When he has had his chance he scores goals and that’s what he is about.”
Nketiah has done well when given opportunities having scored in both of his starts in the Carabao Cup in August.
He has three goals in 444 minutes in the Championship and is being overlooked by Bielsa.
Ljungberg also revealed how he is in constant contact with Nketiah and did not rule out a recall for him in January.
LIVE on talkSPORT
Check out all the live commentaries coming up across our network this week…
- Millwall vs Nottingham Forest (Friday, 19:45) – talkSPORT 2
- Everton vs Chelsea (Saturday, 12:30) – talkSPORT
- Huddersfield vs Leeds (Saturday, 12:30) – talkSPORT 2
- Tottenham vs Burnley (Saturday 15:00) – talkSPORT 2
- Manchester City vs Manchester United (Saturday, 17:30) – talkSPORT
- West Brom vs Swansea (Sunday, 12:00) – talkSPORT 2