Liverpool attacker Rhian Brewster has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Jurgen Klopp has revealed.
Speaking at his Friday lunchtime media conference, the Anfield manager said, as quoted by the Daily Mirror’s live press conference blog (Friday, 1.47pm) that the forward, 18, won’t play at all in 2018-19.
Brewster had appeared to be on the comeback trail after being pictured training at the club’s Melwood headquarters on Tuesday following a year out with damaged ankle ligaments.
OPINION
This is a shattering blow for Brewster and Liverpool. An already horrific absence of a year will now extend to 18 months in what is a devastating blow for the player at such a crucial stage in his career. Klopp has spoken in the past what an admirer he is of the teenager, who won the Golden Boot at the Under-17s World Cup in 2017. The striker was expected to be gradually introduced to the first team this season, proof of his immense talent given the quality of the senior players blocking his path to the starting XI. Klopp is a master of when to introduce a player, young or old, into the first team, and understanding the acclimatisation period required. Brewster will have to stay immensely strong over what are sure to be a difficult few months ahead, in which he will have to dig deep into his mental reserves. He’s already had one major setback in his fledgling career with which to contend, and this is the most testing yet.