Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike successfully underwent Achilles surgery and is expected to return stronger, according to manager Arne Slot. However, he will be sidelined for a significant period.
Key points
Hugo Ekitike underwent successful Achilles surgery.
Arne Slot is confident Ekitike will return stronger.
Ekitike faces a long recovery period.
Injury occurred during a match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Mentioned in this story
Arne Slot
LiverpoolParis Saint-GermainHugo Ekitike
Liverpool boss Arne Slot looks on during a game
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has revealed Hugo Ekitike's 'surgery went well' -Credit:Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images
(Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Arne Slot remains confident Hugo Ekitike will return stronger than ever after suffering a serious injury, as the Liverpool forward faces "a long time" away from the pitch.
Ekitike went under the knife earlier this week to repair the ruptured Achilles tendon in his right leg sustained during the Reds' UEFA Champions League loss to his former side, Paris Saint-Germain, at Anfield last week.
While no specific timeframe has been established for his comeback, the 23-year-old, who remains Liverpool's leading scorer this season following his arrival in a potential ÂŁ79 ($107) million transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, is expected to remain absent until deep into the next campaign.
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike on the pitch in pain after rupturing his Achilles
Ekitike suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain -Credit:Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
And while Slot holds out hope this setback won't significantly compromise the striker's natural style, he acknowledges Ekitike is confronting an extended rehabilitation period, via the Liverpool Echo.
"The surgery went well," said the Liverpool boss. "That is the first and important step he had to make. In such a long rehab process, there are so many crucial steps to be made before you can say it is going to take that amount of months or that amount of months.
"It is going to take a long time. Everyone cannot really call the surgeon and ask him how long it is going to take, they will tell you multiple months. Then it all depends on how rehab goes.
"He is a very explosive player, that is usually not helpful if you have this injury but maybe he is the exception to this.
"But he will be back stronger, as all the others who have been injured for such a long time. Giovanni Leoni, I don't know if you want to know but I have seen some Instagram posts from the club - this guy becomes a beast!"
With Ekitike sidelined, the responsibility will fall upon Alexander Isak to regain both fitness and his scoring touch, having missed a significant portion of the season through injury.
Isak made his second consecutive start in the 2-1 victory over Everton, playing 72 minutes - the fourth-longest spell he's managed on the pitch since his British record ÂŁ125 ($170) million transfer from Newcastle United in September.
The Sweden international is expected to retain his spot for Saturday's Premier League visit of Crystal Palace, and will represent his nation at the FIFA World Cup this summer.
When questioned whether the tournament might prove beneficial for the player, Slot responded: "It won't hinder him. What would be the best scenario for him I cannot say, but a very good pre-season for us, six or seven weeks would be a good lead-up to the season.
"But if he has a good World Cup where it plays a lot of games that would be helpful. The tempo of games when they play for their countries is lower than Premier League or Champions League. But I am happy he is back.
Liverpool's Alexander Isak during a game
Alexander Isak recently returned from a broken leg -Credit:Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
"Now he is two weeks with us maybe. That is a lot of months without training time with the team in the middle of a season when everyone is top fit.
"That is not the easiest part to come back but we are seeing progress in the games we played and we are hoping the progress can continue. How fast he can have his best best level, I don't know that, I cannot look at the future but I am hoping for us and himself, it is very soon."
Elsewhere, Liverpool will receive a welcome boost with Joe Gomez returning to the fold after sitting out the derby, while Wataru Endo has taken a significant step forward in his recovery from an ankle operation.
"Joe is back in the squad and that is really positive because last weekend, we had two centre-backs who were playing and none on the bench so it is really helpful Joe is back," said Slot.
"Wata is starting to go out, not with the team yet, do exercises outside with the rehab team. He is making steps but will not be available for next week against United or the week after but we are hoping and expecting him to be back at the end of the season."
