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Liverpool have confirmed that Joe Gomez will undergo surgery on a lower leg fracture.
The defender sustained the injury against Burnley in the Premier League in December and has subsequently been absent from the succeeding nine games.
What’s the word?
Gomez, who had been enjoying an extended run in the team, lasted just 23 minutes against Burnley, where he had been deployed as a right-back.
He has since been absent from matches against the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Leicester City, with the Reds losing to Pep Guardiola’s men without him.
He will now go under the knife and Liverpool have revealed in an official statement that “it’s likely he will feature again this season”.
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Manager Jurgen Klopp, per the aforementioned statement, said: “It’s a blow for the boy and for us – because prior to the injury he was in such fantastic shape.
“But he is too valuable to take any risk with, both for our present and future, so we get this procedure done and he comes back when he’s ready.”
Gomez had impressed in his 18 appearances prior to the injury – he has also won six caps for England under Gareth Southgate.
Milner as deputy
Klopp desperately needs Trent Alexander-Arnold back with Gomez injured.
Without the pair, he has been forced to play both Jordan Henderson and James Milner at right-back and it seems likely that the latter will continue in the role for the coming games.
The Reds face West Ham United on Monday as they look to extend their two-point gap over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
They are short at right-back, however, and will have to rely on Milner until at least the weekend, when the Reds take on AFC Bournemouth at Anfield.