Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted that there is no return in sight for Joe Gomez currently, as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Fortunately for the Reds, they are in one of the healthiest injury situations they have been in for some time, with almost a completely fit squad available to Slot.
The one player who is missing is Gomez, however, with the 27-year-old not featuring since injuring his hamstring in the 5-0 win away to West Ham last month.
It has been a cruel setback for the Englishman, who was performing at such a consistent level before his injury, shining alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night [via This Is Anfield], Slot admitted that Gomez is still some weeks away from returning to full fitness:
“Quite far [away from returning], he’s definitely not training with the team yet.”
Our thoughts on Slot’s Gomez injury update…
It doesn’t sound good for Gomez, in terms of him featuring for Liverpool any time soon, and it will be such a tough period for him, having suffered so many injury problems down the years.
As mentioned, he has been such a steady performer for the Reds this season, averaging 2.1 clearances per game across nine Premier League appearances, and Slot knows what an important player he is, recently saying:
“I chose Joe today because Jarell was really tired, and he proved I was right because he was outstanding in the second half.
“He had a very good performance without the ball. He constantly stepped into midfield to win the ball, winning the duels, and when he had to defend he did very well. He had a very good second half.”
Thankfully for Liverpool, Gomez’s absence isn’t as problematic as it has been in the past, due to Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah all being fit currently.
They still need him back as soon as possible, however, not least because Konate is another injury-prone figure who finds it difficult to stay fit for long periods, and Quansah is still a young player learning his trade.