Liverpool have been handed a new injury scare, with Jeremy Jacquet left out of France’s squad to face Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday night.
The 21-year-old had been expected to make his third successive start for France after impressing on his debut against Belgium last week and earning rave reviews for his display against Italy.
However, Jacquet missed out on Zinedine Zidane’s final squad of the international break, with Manchester United’s Leny Yoro making his senior debut in his place.
The French Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed, via Get French Football News, that Jacquet is suffering from “a strain to his left hamstring.”
With no risks being taken over his fitness, Jacquet’s exclusion is aimed at preventing any further aggravation ahead of his return to club duty.
The news will concern Liverpool, with Jacquet having played the full 90 minutes in France’s 1-0 win over Belgium and 1-1 draw with Italy.
Following the international break, Jacquet is expected to return to Merseyside for further assessment by Liverpool’s medical team.
The timing is particularly important for Andoni Iraola, whose side faces Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. City currently lead the Premier League with 15 points from five games, while Liverpool sit sixth with nine points.
Iraola is already sweating over the fitness of two players after Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo were released early from international duty. Isak’s injury has been described as minor, while Gakpo is a bigger concern after suffering an ankle injury against Serbia.
Jacquet’s injury is his first setback after an impressive start to life at Liverpool. The defender has starred alongside Virgil van Dijk this season after recovering from the shoulder injury that ended his time at Rennes, earning his first senior France call-up.
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