Hugo Ekitike will return stronger after ‘devastating’ injury: Arne Slot

Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike was carried off injured. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA

Arne Slot has backed Hugo Ekitike to return a stronger player after the “devastating” Achilles injury that has ruled him out long term.

The Liverpool striker will miss the rest of this season and the World Cup with France, and could also be forced to sit out a substantial portion of the next campaign after rupturing his right Achilles tendon during Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Paris St Germain.

Reds boss Slot said: “He hasn’t been operated on yet. It is devastating for him, coming to a new club and having such an impact straight away.

“Your first thoughts are always with him, being out for such a long time and missing out on so many special moments.

“He is not the first and he will not be the last player who will experience something like this at the start of his career and there are so many examples of players that have come back even stronger.

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

The timing of Ekitike’s injury is awkward for Slot, with Alexander Isak only just returning from his own long-term lay-off.

The summer signing started his first match since December in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss but struggled to impact the game and was substituted at half-time.

Alexander Isak has not yet played more than 45 minutes since returning from injury (Nick Potts/PA)

Slot said: “First of all, it is a good thing we have signed two number nines, because there were a lot of people who were debating why we signed two number nines.

“We thought maybe it’s a smart idea not to be the only club in the world that has only one number nine. Now people are maybe questioning if we should sign another number nine.

“Someone said to me the day after (PSG), you cannot write the script that, on the day Alex is back after four months, the other one leaves the pitch with a long-term injury. It is a good thing Alex is back now even more, but we also know he is not ready to play 90 (minutes) yet.”

Slot, who also confirmed he would be without defender Joe Gomez for Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton, will consider other options up front, with Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa in his thinking.

Liverpool’s sole focus is now on securing Champions League football before a summer that will see more squad upheaval following the confirmed exits of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.

Slot believes Tuesday’s performance points to a positive future despite the 2-0 defeat, saying: “We were able to have more ball possession, to generate 21 shots, to have a high xG against a team that is used to the fact they dominate ball possession.

“Even if you take into account that Hugo had to go off after 30 minutes, Alex had to go off at half-time. So, if you would see them playing over 90 minutes in their best shape, then this team has already shown, at they did in so many other moments, that they can compete with the best teams in Europe.

“That tells you this is already a very strong team but it takes some changes with Robbo and Mo leaving – but the future looks bright for us.

“We are a trading club so let’s first see what’s actually going to happen in the summer.”