Rio Ngumoha Injury Update: Slot Explains Barnsley Substitution

Arne Slot has allayed preliminary issues over an harm to Rio Ngumoha after he was introduced off late on in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Barnsley within the FA Cup.

Ngumoha made his first begin since October as certainly one of six modifications to the aspect for Monday’s third-round tie at Anfield.

And after a strong efficiency from the 17-year-old he was pressured off within the 73rd minute, having caught his studs within the turf.

That led to fears over an harm, with strategies of a hamstring drawback, however in his post-match press convention Slot mentioned: “I assume and assume and anticipate it’s cramp.”

The Dutchman defined that this was in step with his expectations for the teenager, who remains to be creating bodily and, he believes, not but prepared for normal begins.

“So it tells Rio that I anticipate {that a} Premier League sport is extra intense than this one,” Slot continued.

“[It tells you] that it’s very good for him to once more make 70 minutes, however that it’s nonetheless very laborious work to be prepared for 90 within the Premier League.

“However that’s utterly regular for a 17-year-old, make no mistake about that.

“It’s already nice for him and for Liverpool and everyone who’s following us {that a} 17-year-old makes so many minutes in a Liverpool shirt.

“So let’s hope he can proceed and we will convey him additional and additional in direction of 90 minutes at Premier League degree.”

Ngumoha is but to begin in both the Premier League or Champions League and it appears unlikely he’ll do that season until in emergency circumstances.

That’s maybe smart given the harm points others in his state of affairs have confronted in years passed by – Jayden Danns, for instance, missed the conflict with Barnsley after a setback in his personal health.

However with Liverpool selecting to not signal a alternative for Luis Diaz to make sure Ngumoha’s pathway wouldn’t be blocked, it nonetheless raises questions over whether or not that was a smart choice.

It as a substitute creates an over-reliance on Cody Gakpo as first-choice left winger, and it may be even be argued he has suffered resulting from a scarcity of strain on his place within the aspect.

Within the quick time period, Slot will probably be hoping to incorporate Ngumoha on his bench once more within the video games to return, with Alexander Isak nonetheless sidelined and Mohamed Salah extending his keep on the Africa Cup of Nations into the semi-finals.