Slot backs Ekitike to recover from ‘devastating’ Achilles injury

AFP | London

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes Hugo Ekitike can come back even stronger from a ruptured Achilles tendon that has ended the French striker’s season, and his dreams of playing in the World Cup.

Ekitike suffered the injury against his former club Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday as Liverpool bowed out of the Champions League.

The 23-year-old had scored 17 goals in his debut season in England after a £69 million ($93 million) move from Eintracht Frankfurt and was almost certain to make Didier Deschamps’s France squad for the World Cup.

“Devastating for him,” said Slot yesterday with Ekitike expected to be out for at least nine months.

“Missing out on so many special moments, but he’s not the first and will not be the last player that experienced something like this in the start of his career.

“There are so many examples of players that came back even stronger and that’s the challenge he has now.

“I’m 100 percent sure he will be one of those that in 10 to 15 years say, ‘maybe this injury even helped me to become stronger and become even more ready to perform even at a higher level than I did before’.”

The loss of Ekitike was also a huge blow to Liverpool’s hopes of securing a place in the Champions League next season.

Slot’s men sit fifth in the Premier League, which will be enough to qualify, and enjoy a four-point lead over sixthplaced Chelsea.