Liverpool to assess Joe Gomez injury picked up on international duty

Liverpool FC defender Joe Gomez will be assessed by the Reds' medics on Wednesday after sustaining a knee injury for England U21s in their 3-0 win over Kazakhstan on Tuesday night.

Liverpool to assess Joe Gomez injury picked up on international duty
charlie-malam
By Charlie Malam

Liverpool FC are hopeful that the injury which forced Joe Gomez off in England U21's 3-0 win over Kazakhstan on Tuesday night isn't anything serious.

The 18-year-old picked up the knock with just 10 minutes remaining at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena, after an innocuous challenge with forward Abat Aimbetov near the corner flag.

But despite initial fears, it is believed the young defender has simply suffered a minor tweak to a ligament in his right knee - as opposed to picking up anything severe.

Gomez will be formally assessed by the Reds' medics at their Melwood training ground in West Derby on Wednesday to examine the full extent of the damage, as he and team-mate Jordon Ibe return from international duty.

Young Lions take comfortable win in Coventry

The centre-back had started in a right-back role of a 4-3-3 for Gareth Southgate's side, with Ibe ahead of him as one of a three-pronged attack.

They had to be patient in waiting for the first goal, but found the breakthrough after Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek fired a loose ball into the roof of the net shortly after half-time.

Ibe almost set Loftus-Cheek up for a second after a stunning solo run down the flank resulted in a cut-back, but his shot was deflected wide of goal.

England doubled their advantage just minutes after Ibe was withdrawn as Norwich City winger Nathan Redmond's low shot found the bottom corner with 20 minutes left - with the Reds' teenager replaced by Duncan Watmore.

Not long later, Gomez was hauled off - after England's medical team had to help him off the pitch. 

And late on, Chuba Akpom added some gloss to the victory as he tapped in from a cross defender Dominic Iorfa, who had come on in place of Gomez, in stoppage-time.

The victory sealed the young Lions second win from two in Group 9 of their qualifying campaign for the UEFA 2017 European Championship.

Gomez will be hoping to be in contention for Liverpool's trip to Tottenham Hotspur this Saturday, which marks new manager Jürgen Klopp's first game in charge of the club.

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About the author
Charlie Malam
Digital Sports Writer at the Daily Express. First-class Staffordshire University Sports Journalism graduate. Formerly VAVEL UK's Liverpool FC editor and Deputy Editor-in-Chief. Contributor since June 2014.