Xherdan Shaqiri set for assessment on Liverpool return after sustaining injury with Switzerland
Xherdan Shaqiri will need to undergo further assessment on his return to Liverpool after picking up an injury on international duty.
Liverpool’s No. 23 is not due back to pre-season with the first wave of players on Saturday after representing his country in the immediate aftermath of the Reds’ Champions League triumph.
However, it is there where Shaqiri picked up a calf injury which threatens to disrupt his preparations for the 2019/20 season.
The 27-year-old was forced from the field in the second half of Switzerland’s Nations League meeting with England after signalling to the bench that he was unable to continue.
Initial reports suggested that Shaqiri pulled the muscle, and Liverpool have now confirmed that he will require further checks by the club’s medical team when he arrives for pre-season “in the coming weeks.”
While the extent of the injury is unknown, it comes as a major blow to Jurgen Klopp‘s pre-season plans as the Reds will already be without their regular strike force in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino due to their participation in international tournaments.
The Swiss international does have a history of muscles injuries as he has suffered from torn muscle bundles on three occasions in his career and had a similar calf complaint with Stoke which kept him sidelined for six weeks.
His recent injury record makes for good viewing but, with a congested season ahead which sees the Reds compete across several fronts, Liverpool can ill afford losing an attacking option for a prolonged period of time.
The injury is likely to see Ryan Kent and Harry Wilson, who were expected to be moved on either on loan or on a permanent deal, remain in the squad for longer than expected to act as alternative attacking options.
It’s another early blow for Liverpool as Naby Keita is set to undergo specialist treatment in Qatar for an adductor problem which forced him out of representing Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations.
