Liverpool could now lose 'frightening' attacker for a chunk of the season as unseen worry emerges - opinion
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Liverpool fans know they will have to manage without Mohamed Salah for a crucial period of the season as AFCON rumbles around in December.
Salah has never won the tournament with Egypt, and will no doubt be desperate to put an end to that this time.
His absence will not be a surprise to Arne Slot, and Liverpool are well stocked with forward options so as to manage the games Salah will miss.
There had been previous worries that Ekitike could be called up to play for Cameroon during AFCON, but the 23-year-old has since played competitively for France, ending that possibility.
Nevertheless, it has emerged that Liverpool could in fact be without another of their forwards during the winter period.
After such a stunning start to life in the first team at Anfield, Rio Ngumoha may unfortunately be set to miss a chunk of the season.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Ngumoha’s emergence as a genuine option for Slot has been one of the stories of Liverpool’s season so far.
The 17-year-old has made four appearances, scoring once, and is clearly trusted by the Liverpool head coach.
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In amongst the hype, it is easy to forget that Ngumoha, who signed his first professional contract with Liverpool on Thursday, is still so young.
Although Ngumoha has already featured for England U19s, he turned out for the U17s during last summer’s European U17 Championship and has 11 caps for the team.
There is no guarantee that Ngumoha will be part of the travelling squad, or that Liverpool will grant permission for his temporary exit.
But this has the potential to be a worry.
Ngumoha has been a ‘frightening’ addition to the Liverpool team.
Every time he plays for the Reds he looks to have developed even further.
Although he is still nothing like a vital member of the group, the former Chelsea prospect is growing in stature with every passing week.
As a result, looking at the matches which Ngumoha could miss if he does travel for the World Cup is slightly ominous.
Liverpool play six matches in November, all of which the teenager would likely be unavailable for.
Kicking off the month with a tough run of games against Aston Villa, Real Madrid and Man City, Liverpool then face an international break of their own before playing Nottingham Forest and then PSV at Anfield.