Northern Ireland star Conor Bradley in action against Luxembourg in November
The news means the Northern Ireland hero will also miss March’s World Cup Play-Off Semi-Final with Italy in Bergamo.
Trainers check on Liverpool's Conor Bradley during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Liverpool
Bradley, 22, was forced off during Thursday's 0-0 Premier League draw at Arsenal after landing awkwardly in stoppage time. It’s now understood that the Tyrone native has damaged bone and ligament in his knee and he will have surgery in the coming days.
Liverpool said Bradley had “sustained a significant knee injury”, adding in a statement: “No timeframe is being placed on his return to playing at this stage of the process.”
Bradley had made 21 appearances this season, having missed a number of matches with a hamstring problem.
While Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill has several other players who can play in Bradley’s favoured right wing-back position, none of them possess the Liverpool star’s match-winning ability.
O’Neill is also likely to be without first choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles for the Italy game. The Sheffield Wednesday shot stopper picked up a shoulder injury during Saturday’s FA Cup loss to Brentford.
The World Cup Play-Off Semi-Final between Italy and Northern Ireland will be staged in Bergamo on Thursday March 26, with the winners of Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina awaiting in the Final.
Should Northern Ireland upset the odds and qualify for the World Cup, Bradley will face a race against the clock to play in North America.
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