Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren has admitted that the club are not happy that he has returned with an injury picked up during the World Cup.
The Croatia centre-back is scheduled to see a specialist in the Netherlands. Lovren has been unable to train after suffering from an injury to his stomach muscles that started in the World Cup and has progressively got worse.
Croatia made it all the way to the final in Russia but had to go through three consecutive matches of extra time as they beat Denmark, Russia, England in the knock-out stages.
Those matches have taken their toll on Lovren, who admitted he had to play through the pain barrier to make it to the final but has been unable to play since then.
He told Sportske Novosti on his fitness issues: “I cannot train at all because of stomach muscle issues. I am suffering a lot of pain and will see a specialist doctor in the Netherlands.
“When did I start to feel it? I felt it during the World Cup. I played with pain and those three games killed me. But who wouldn’t play for Croatia at such a big tournament!
“After the World Cup finished, the pain increased. I can’t even sit in my car without feeling it and to get out of the car hurts like hell!
“I’d always grit my teeth and play for Croatia, but now I am paying the price. But no price is too high for what we achieved in Russia.”
Lovren, when quizzed on Liverpool’s reaction to him returning short of fitness, added: “Of course, they are not happy.
“I haven’t trained since I returned from holiday. I can’t. I’ll reassess things after seeing the doctor in Netherlands. I have to deal with that for now and believe it will be OK.
“I hoped it would pass during my holiday, but it didn’t. As I went for a swim, it hurt. I couldn’t even rest normally.”
Liverpool start their campaign at home to West Ham and will have to do without their Croatian centre-back as they face a much-changed Irons side managed by Manuel Pellegrini. They will also be without Ragnar Klavan while Joel Matip is a doubt.
The post Dejan Lovren left unable to train with Liverpool after unusual World Cup injury appeared first on Squawka News.
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