English Premier League runners-up, Liverpool have exuded confidence that their Guinea midfielder Naby Keita will not face a lengthy period of rehabilitation after his latest injury setback suffered on international duty during the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.
The midfielder was forced out of the final group game of Guinea’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign after suffering a recurrence of the abductor injury which prematurely ended his debut Anfield campaign.
After picking up the knock in his country’s earlier defeat to Nigeria, he sat out the 2-0 win over Burundi after which he was lifted to Liverpool for assessment.
The Merseyside club’s medical staff assessed Keita to determine the extent of the damage. The results were positive, Liverpool not seeing it as a serious setback.
They expect him to be fit enough to join pre-season training with the rest of the international contingent, who return later than the rest of the squad ahead of the US tour in July.
Liverpool publicly voiced their concern about Keita’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, with the manager Jurgen Klopp and his medical team warning of the perils of prematurely using the player before he was 100 per cent recovered but Guinea were determined to use their star performer, regardless of the risks posed.
🇬🇳⚽️ When Naby Keita scored Liverpool's fastest ever Premier League goal last season. pic.twitter.com/fk9hQ5JrR1
— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) June 25, 2019
Prior to joining the Guinea squad, Keita had not featured in a senior game since the Champions League semi-final first leg away at Barcelona on May 1.
The Champions League winners hoped the 24-year-old would enjoy some rest and recuperation ahead of an important second season following an inconsistent first year on Merseyside.
There is strong competition in the centre of Liverpool’s midfield, but the faith in Keita is one of the reasons the club see no cause to spend significantly to strengthen in that area over the summer.