Iraola admits uncertainty over Liverpool player’s international involvement after injury scare
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Andoni Iraola has expressed concern as to whether one Liverpool player will link up with his country during this month’s international break.The Reds go into the brief pause to the season off the back of a 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace, with some of the gloss from that result removed by a questionable stoppage-time penalty for the home side and an injury scare to Dominik Szoboszlai.The 26-year-old pulled up towards the end of the first half at Selhurst Park on Sunday and played with a knee brace after the interval until he was substituted for Trey Nyoni in the 69th minute.Iraola issues Szoboszlai injury updateAfter the match, Iraola admitted that the Hungarian wasn’t operating at 100% yesterday, having only recently returned from a thigh issue.The Basque said (via liverpoolfc.com): “I don’t know [if it’s] a problem, but he definitely wasn’t 100%. The last thing we need now is to lose players in the international games.“Last time, in the international break, we lost three very important players, so now I’m praying – it’s the last thing we need.“I think he extended a little bit the knee.
It was fine, but not 100%, so he has to be careful to see if he can play with the national team or not. Touch wood we are in a better place in two weeks.”(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)On whether Szoboszlai would link up with the Hungary squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, Iraola said: “I know he will do everything to go because he loves to play with the national team, but he was not 100% when he finished the game.
I’m sure that Dom, if he is fine he will want to go, but I’m not sure if he’s going to be fine.”Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trustLiverpool nerves could be frayedAlong with Iraola, Liverpool fans with no vested interest in the Hungary national team will surely be hoping that Szoboszlai rests up during the international window rather than representing his country.Marco Rossi’s side are away to Georgia next Saturday and at home to Northern Ireland three days later, with promotion to League A well within their grasp heading into that double header.(Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)As captain of his country, the midfielder will no doubt be striving to play his part over the coming week or so, but there must also be a duty towards the club which pays his wages and given him a platform to reach an even higher level in his career.Liverpool resume their season in 13 days’ time with an Anfield grudge match against Manchester United, and they still have 11 more matches to play before the end of December, so managing players’ fitness will be vital during that relentless period.Szoboszlai has been a frustrating figure at times this term, with debate raging as to where exactly his best position is on the pitch, but his creativity came to the fore in the win over Palace on Sunday.Also, as he’s shown on several occasions, he possesses that X-factor to conjure up show-stopping and often result-altering goals.Whatever decisions might be taken between Liverpool and Hungary, fingers crossed that our vice-captain is back to 100% for the Man United clash on the 22nd of this month.