Hugo Ekitike ruled out of World Cup as Liverpool confirm extent of devastating injury | OneFootball

Liverpool have confirmed Hugo Ekitike has ruptured his Achilles tendon and will miss this summer’s World Cup.

Ekitike was stretchered off during the first half of Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Paris-Saint Germain on Tuesday. France coach Didier Deschamps then said the striker will be absent for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Liverpool now confirming that his season is also over.

“Scans on the issue have subsequently confirmed a rupture of the Achilles tendon,” Liverpool said in a statement. “Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France. Further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC.”

Ekitike has been one of the few positives from a disappointing campaign from Liverpool following last year’s Premier League title. The 23-year-old forward scored 17 goals in his debut season at Anfield, including 11 in the Premier League, following a his £70m move from Eintracht Frankfurt. But injuries to fellow new signing Alexander Isak have prevented Liverpool from deploying the two forwards in tandem.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted after the quarter-final clash against PSG, which the Reds lost 4-0 on aggregate, that Ekitike’s injury looked “really bad”, while defender Ibrahima Konate - his team-mate for both club and country - said that “because with the World Cup coming it is very, very hard for him and I send him my prayers”.

Ekitike went down off the ball and Deschamps said on Wednesday: "Hugo suffered a serious injury on Tuesday evening against PSG. The severity of his injury will unfortunately prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and participating in the World Cup.”

The 23-year-old has eight caps for France after breaking into the squad last September and was set to be selected by Deschamps as one of his forward options. Ekitike has scored two goals for his country, including one in the 2-1 friendly win over Brazil during the March international break.

“Hugo is one of the dozen young players who have made their debuts with the national team in recent months. He had perfectly integrated into the group, both on the pitch and off it,” Deschamps added.

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Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike is carried off on a stretcher against PSG (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

“This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team. His disappointment is immense.

“Hugo will regain his top form, I'm convinced of it. But I wanted to express all my support to him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he'll be fully behind the France team, and we're all thinking of him very strongly."

France are drawn in Group I for the World Cup and will start their campaign against Senegal on 16 June at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium - where the World Cup final will be held - before facing Iraq on 22 June and Norway on 26 June.