Naby Keita has flown out of Egypt to receive treatment from Liverpool club medical staff having sustained a thigh injury while competing at the African Cup of Nations, according to African football journalist Amadou Makadji.
Keita also injured his shin during the defeat to Nigeria last Wednesday, meaning he missed Guinea’s 2-0 win over Burundi on Sunday.
Before the Nigeria match, manager Paul Put had claimed that he would only play Keita if the midfielder was ‘100 per cent ready’, but claimed they had ‘done everything’ to prepare him to start the game, which he did. Keita lasted 70 minutes before he was withdrawn with the injuries.
The plan at the current time is for Keita to return to Egypt and rejoin his teammates in a few days after undergoing some treatment for his knocks.
The Reds, though, will surely only let that happen if they are completely satisfied that he will not suffer more injuries or make the current ones worse.
With pre-season starting next week and the campaign proper underway in just over a month, Keita’s latest injury setback is certainly a concern. 2019-20 could be a big season for him – but only if he gets and stays fit.