Liverpool right back Jeremie Frimpong will be out until after the September international break with a hamstring injury, Arne Slot confirmed at his pre-Newcastle press conference.
Frimpong, who made his Premier League debut in the 4-2 win over Bournemouth last Friday, was forced off on the hour mark after feeling discomfort. The summer signing will now miss the upcoming league fixtures against Newcastle United and Arsenal.
Speaking today, Slot explained the decision and praised the club’s medical team:
“The medical team was completely right about Jeremie to tell me they had to take him off, because he is out until the end of the international break, and that happened in the game. I already said immediately after the game that it had nothing to do with how he played, but we felt he had an issue with his hamstring.
And with ‘we’ I don’t mean me, but the medical staff. And they were completely right. So, a good call to take him off; otherwise, he would have maybe been out for longer. And we expect to have him back after the international break.”
The setback leaves Liverpool short at right back, although there was positive news as Conor Bradley made a return to training. The Northern Ireland international had missed the Community Shield and the season opener with a hamstring issue of his own.
Slot confirmed:
“Conor trained for a few minutes with us today for the first time.”
Frimpong’s absence comes just as Slot was beginning to integrate him into the starting XI, with the Dutchman impressing in his debut before injury struck. His return is now expected in late September, after the international break.
