Schalke 04 have issued a worrying injury update on Liverpool talent Sepp van den Berg, with the defender expected to face months out on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
The Bundesliga side took to Twitter to confirm that the Dutch youth international had been sent to hospital following this weekend’s 3-2 loss against Augsburg, with Van den Berg going down in the second half with a suspect ankle injury after blocking a shot from Mergim Berisha.
https://twitter.com/s04/status/1576617689103015938
Video of the incident shows Van den Berg’s ankle in a nasty way, and viewing would lead many to expect that the 20-year-old will be out on the treatment table for quite some time, with the Liverpool defender being a regular for Schalke this season in the Bundesliga.
The centre-back has started every game for Schalke since arriving in late August, with Van den Berg making four appearances in total for the newly-promoted German side. However, the defender could now be out well into 2023 following his latest injury.
Hailed as ‘incredible’ by Preston North End defender Greg Cunningham as per the club’s official website, Van den Berg is viewed by many as one of Liverpool’s most exciting prospects, yet this latest injury could throw a serious wrench in the centre-back’s development, which could not have come at a worse time.
Van den Berg injury might have major implications on his development, which
Van den Berg looked primed to enjoy a breakout season with Schalke this season. However, the defender’s latest injury could have major implications on his progress to become a top centre-back, with the centre-back now facing weeks or potentially months out on the treatment table.
Indeed, missing matches at this stage of his career could be massive for how Van den Berg develops in the years to come. And the severity of the ankle injury could have long-term effects on the defender’s playing style if the problem is as major as first feared.
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