Just when Naby Keita was finally starting to find some form for Liverpool, his season has now been cut short. The midfielder struggled to produce his best form after arriving from RB Leipzig for £48million last summer, but had come to life in recent weeks.
Just when it looked like he could play a big role for the club over the final few games, an adductor injury picked up against Barcelona in midweek means he will miss the rest of the season.
Jurgen Klopp claimed the ruptured adductor would keep Keita out of action for around two months. The Guinea international was set to represent his country at the African Cup of Nations next month, with the tournament getting underway in Egypt on June 21st.
A two month layoff would rule Keita out of the competition, with Guinea opening their campaign against Madagascar on the 22nd of June.
However, the President of the Guinea FA says he expects Keita to play in the tournament. In fact, he has slammed Jurgen Klopp for even suggesting this injury could keep him out. Antonio Souare told Football Factory Radio (h/t Liverpool Echo):
The adductors [injury] is two to three weeks of unavailability. The Liverpool coach has to pull himself together, let the doctors do their job.
Naby Keita belongs to a state before belonging to Liverpool. I remind the Liverpool coach a little bit of the rules if he does not know it.
So it's hasty and pretentious to make statements like this. What we do know is that Naby Keita will play at the African Cup of Nations 2019.
Losing a player of Keita's calibre would be a massive blow for the African nation, who is the captain and by far the most notable name in the squad.
