Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino has suffered an injury while on international duty and is likely to spend some time on the sidelines.
The Japan international missed his nation’s 1-0 defeat to Oman on Thursday and now the Japanese FA have confirmed that he has picked up an injury.
“Midfielder Takumi Minamino (Liverpool FC) has been withdrawn from the team due to an injury at SAMURAI BLUE, which is active for the Asian final qualifying (Road to Qatar) China national team match,” read a statement from the Japan FA (as quoted).
“We will inform you of additional convened players to replace Minamino as soon as they are decided.”
Takumi Minamino set to be a big miss for Klopp?
The midfielder’s injury will be a bit of a setback for Jurgen Klopp because he will lose some bench strength but the manager will definitely not be losing any sleep.
Minamino has failed to carve out a niche at Liverpool singing joining and he’s yet to feature this season.
Liverpool play Leeds United next weekend and if this injury is serious then Takumi Minamino will be absent from the matchday squad. But with players like Naby Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain as backups, the Japanese will not even be missed one bit.
Against Chelsea, Fabinho was partnered by Harvey Elliott and Jordan Henderson but against Leeds United, Thiago is likely to come back into the starting line up.
And if Takumi Minamino is fully fit then he will only be good enough to find a place on the bench.
