Liverpool's Portugal striker ruled out of friendly against Nigeria

Liverpool striker Diogo Jota is certainly out of the international friendly between Portugal and Nigeria scheduled to take place at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on November 17.

Speaking to the national media in England before his side's Premier League meeting with West Ham United, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Jota is set for a spell on the sidelines due to the calf muscle injury he sustained against Manchester City on Sunday.

The attacker will not recover from the  injury before the start of the 2022 World Cup, meaning he won't be named in Fernando Santos' squad for the friendly against the Super Eagles. 

"It’s really not good news about Diogo. Yes, he will miss the World Cup. [It’s a] pretty serious injury in the calf muscle and now the recovery process starts. That’s it pretty much," Klopp was quoted as saying by Liverpool's official website. 

"That is the first diagnosis, which was pretty clear, and all the rest will now follow in the next few days.

"It is very sad news for the boy, and for us as well of course [and] for Portugal."

Jota was injured in added time during the match against Manchester City and was substituted in the sixth minute of stoppage time, leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

The 25-year-old is a key member of the Portugal team, scoring ten goals and providing eight assists in twenty nine appearances, 

The friendly against Nigeria is Portugal's last preparatory game before their trip to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.

Portugal will use the friendly to prepare for their 2022 World Cup Group H clash against Ghana on November 24.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com