2 hours ago
41
Alexander Isak has been sidelined for a lengthy period after he suffered a broken leg in the win over Tottenham with teammate Hugo Ekitike showing his support
Hugo Ekitike has urged Alexander Isak to "stay strong" as the Liverpool striker faces an extended period on the treatment table. Isak will be sidelined for a "couple of months" following surgery on Monday afternoon after suffering a broken leg during the 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
The forward was injured in a collision with Micky van de Ven whilst netting his team's opener. Isak required assistance from two Liverpool medical staff members to leave the pitch, with an MRI scan revealing ankle damage and a fractured fibula.
Taking to Instagram, Ekitike posted a photograph of himself alongside Isak, accompanied by the caption: "Stay strong brother. Speedy recovery inshallah."
READ MORE: Arne Slot opens up on Wolves 'challenge' despite Premier League strugglers having 2 pointsREAD MORE: Liverpool transfer news as Reds receive major Antoine Semenyo boostSpeaking on Tuesday morning, Reds manager Arne Slot condemned Van de Ven's 'reckless challenge' on Isak. He remarked: "It's going to be a long injury, for a couple of months.
"It's a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us. This was, for me, a reckless challenge. I've said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons [who was sent off dragging his studs down the calf of Virgil van Dijk] which for me was completely unintentional.
"I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that. But the tackle of Van de Ven, if you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury."
Isak has featured 16 times following his British-record switch from Newcastle on deadline day, with Slot acknowledging: "It's been a really challenging and difficult period for him.
"Usually when you join a new club - he was very excited as well - you want to show all the qualities you have but that was simply impossible.
"Maybe no-one understands but if you haven't trained on a serious level for three or four months with the team and you are playing in this league you have to be on top of your game to impact a game of football.
"That took - which we all knew - months because there was no pre-season, just games, games, games and hardly any time to train.
"We all knew it would take him time and that's why he is so unlucky he is now injured because we all saw with his goal against West Ham and with this goal [against Tottenham] he gets closer and closer to the player he was last season at Newcastle."
The Reds return to Premier League duty on Saturday when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.
English (US) ·