Arne Slot breaks silence on 'devastating' Hugo Ekitike injury
Ekitike was taken off on a stretcher and it was confirmed on Thursday by Liverpool that scans on the issue have subsequently confirmed the forward has a rupture of the Achilles tendon. And not only is the 23-year-old out for the rest of the season, but he also won’t feature for France at this summer’s World Cup.
And asked for an update on the forward on Friday morning, Slot said: "He hasn't been operated on yet. Devastating for him coming to a new club and having so much impact straight away.
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"Playing against your former club in the Champions League quarter-final with so much to come for him in the summer. First thoughts are with him being out for such along time, missing out on so many special moments.
"Not the first and not the last player who experienced something like this at the start of their career, and so many examples of players coming back even stronger. 100% he will be one of those who say maybe this injury makes me even stronger and more ready to play at an even higher level."
Ekitike joins a growing Liverpool injury list that includes Alisson Becker, Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo.
And Slot has also confirmed that his side’s will be without Joe Gomez for Sunday’s Merseyisde derby against Everton, while the Reds boss also revealed that Alexander Isak still isn't ready to play a full 90 minutes.
Slot made the bold call to start Isak for the first time since December against PSG after his ankle injury but revealed before the match that the striker was only fit to play for one half.
And when asked about the forward on Friday, Slot said: “It's a good thing we signed two number nines.
“Lot of people were debating why we signed two, now it looks like a good (idea), now people are saying we should sign another in the summer.
“Someone said to me the day after that you cannot write the script that on the day Alex is back on first start the other leaves pitch with a long-term injury.
“Even more a good thing that Alex is back but wouldn't be the first time I didn't have someone available in a certain position, such as right-back. Alex, we know, is not ready to play 90 yet.”
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