Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has withdrawn from the Guinea squad because of an injury.
The lowdown
Guinea surprised Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp when they included Keita in their squad for their friendlies against Algeria and the Ivory Coast.
Klopp said that he did not expect Keita to be back in time for the international window, instead predicting a return ‘somewhere in October’ (via the official club website).
The former RB Leipzig man hasn’t played a single minute for the Reds this season as he struggles with a muscle injury.
The latest
The Guinean Football Federation have officially confirmed Keita’s withdrawal and return to Merseyside.
They say their ‘technical staff’ took the final decision and opted to follow Liverpool’s treatment protocols.
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The verdict
This is a wise decision for both the player and the association. Rushing Keita back may have exacerbated his issue, and strained relations between the Guinean FA and Liverpool.
While there’s a lack of clarity around the exact return date, the Reds will hope that he can make a significant contribution prior to the World Cup as they face a stretch of 13 games in 42 days.
One competition the £120,000-per-week man won’t be playing in before the turn of the year, though, is the Champions League, after the Reds opted to omit him from the squad during his absence.
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