Julian Nagelsmann makes exciting Florian Wirtz claim after injury setback

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Florian Wirtz has impressed in recent months after a difficult start at Liverpool, but he will miss Tuesday's Premier League game against Wolves at Molineux with an injury

Julian Nagelsmann will select Florian Wirtz for this summer's World Cup if the midfielder is fit(Image: Getty Images)

Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann believes Florian Wirtz will be a better player in the future after his tough start at Liverpool.

Wirtz, who has picked up an injury and will not feature in Liverpool's Premier League game against Wolves on Tuesday, became the most expensive player in the league's history when he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in a £116 million (£154.4 million) deal last June.

Alexander Isak inherited Wirtz's record later that summer when he moved from Newcastle to Liverpool in a £125 million ($166.3 million) deal, but the pressure was still on the German. Wirtz, 22, is viewed as one of the best young players in Europe after inspiring Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title, German Cup and German Super Cup in 2024.

Yet Wirtz struggled on his arrival in England. He failed to score or provide an assist in his first 12 Premier League appearances, during which he was benched by Slot.

But the German midfielder soon found his feet on Merseyside. He's proven his doubters wrong by scoring six goals and providing eight assists for the Reds across all competitions this season, with many expecting him to play a key role in their run-in.

Slot's players are out of the title race, but they can still win the Champions League and FA Cup. The Reds will face Galatasaray in the last 16 of the Champions League, while a fifth-round FA Cup tie against Wolves awaits them on Friday.

Wirtz is impressing at Liverpool after a difficult start(Image: Getty Images)

If fit, Wirtz will be one of the first names on Nagelsmann's teamsheet at this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Germany's head coach believes Wirtz will only improve as a player after facing a rude awakening in England.

Nagelsmann told Kicker: "When the whole world is writing that hundreds of millions of euros have been spent on a 'flop,' you take the first step to combat the perception. One is forced to draw energy from the perception.

"That’s what Flo did. And that’s why I believe this experience was more valuable for his development than if he had scored eight goals and provided ten assists right from the start.

"He joined a top team at the same time three other stars did. Everyone was fighting to claim their place. Flo got through it, and I top my cap to him. What he accomplished there was not easy, and this experience of his will help us on the national team."

While Wirtz won't feature against Wolves at Molineux in the Premier League on Tuesday — and is expected to miss the FA Cup tie at the same venue — it's hoped he'll recover from his back injury sooner rather than later.

Slot said on Monday when asked about Wirtz's injury: "The game tomorrow will probably come too soon, and maybe the game at the weekend as well. Let’s see how that ends up.

"But we hope to have him back somewhere next week. Maybe earlier. Maybe a bit later. But that timescale."