Liverpool could be dealt a major blow with Diogo Jota set to miss another Portugal game in this international break, according to Fernando Santos.
The Reds will have been hoping for no injuries over the international break.
There have already been injury blows for Thiago, Naby Keita and Harvey Elliott this season.
Liverpool aren’t exactly blessed with attacking depth, so they can’t afford to lose forwards.
Unfortunately, it now looks like Jota has picked up a problem during his time away with Portugal.
Jota was suffering with a muscle injury and has been unable to fully train with his county over the last week.
Jota missed the friendly with Qatar, and Fernando Santos doesn’t really have a positive update on the Liverpool ace.
As quoted by the Daily Mail, Portugal boss Santos has admitted that Jota didn’t train today ahead of facing Luxembourg on Tuesday.
Santos even talked up the possibility of Jota leaving the Portugal camp early to return to Liverpool if he can’t make the bench tomorrow.
“He trained a while ago, increased the intensity today with Joao Brito, but he didn’t train with us,” said Santos. “The probability will be little. I’ll talk to him, see how he feels. If we see that he has any conditions to be on the bench and then come in, that’s fine.”
“If we don’t, we won’t take the risk with a player who hasn’t been able to train with us for a long time. I’ll make the decision shortly, and if he can’t play, he’ll head to Liverpool,” he added.
Getting Jota back early would at least allow Liverpool’s medical staff to work on Jota, who missed a lengthy period of last season.
Branded ‘exceptional’ by Jurgen Klopp just last month, Jota would be a big miss if he has to sit out any Liverpool games.
Roberto Firmino is a ready-made replacement at least, but doesn’t quite provide the same goal threat.
Liverpool will hope for some positive news on Jota, but his chances of facing Watford this weekend seem slim at the moment.
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