Naby Keita, a midfielder for Liverpool, was called up to the Guinea squad and may be able to rejoin after the international break following a muscular issue.
The international player from Guinea, who has a history of injuries, picked up his most recent problem just before the Premier League season kicked off. Keita was again on the bench against Crystal Palace after missing the opening-day draw with Fulham but has now missed his team’s previous five games.
In addition, Keita was left off Liverpool’s Champions League roster for the group stage, raising concerns about yet another extended injury absence.
The 27-year-old has been recalled to the Guinea team for their matches against Algeria and Ivory Coast at the end of September when there will be an international break.
The reason given by Guinea manager Kaba Diawara for starting an injured Keita is that the Liverpool player is “ahead of schedule” in his recovery and might be able to contribute for his nation by the end of the month.
“Naby Kéita is injured and there he is recovering from his injury. His situation is improving and he is even ahead of schedule,”
Diawara told feguifoot.com.
“We took a group of 24 players precisely to give him a chance to be able to count on him because he is a very important player for us, on and off the pitch, he is our captain.”
“We are monitoring his situation very closely. We still have a little over two weeks before our first game. There are chances of getting it back by then.”
When will Keita be back in Liverpool squad
In the Community Shield victory over Manchester City at the end of July, Keita made his only appearance on the field for five minutes this season.
In 117 appearances for the Reds in all competitions, the former RB Leipzig player has tallied 11 goals and seven assists, although he has also missed 69 games due to injury or sickness.
Along with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabio Carvalho, Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones, and Keita, other Liverpool midfielders are presently out due to injury.
At the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Thiago Alcantara made a full recovery from his own thigh issue in time for the Champions League match against Napoli, but he only made an appearance as a substitute.
James Milner, Fabinho, and Harvey Elliott made up Jurgen Klopp’s starting midfield three on Wednesday night, but they were routed by the Partenopei in a 4-1 loss.
Following the postponement of their Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, one of many matches that have been postponed in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, the Reds will look to make up for their defeat to Napoli when they face Ajax in their Champions League match next Tuesday.
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