Image Credits: Imago Images
Wataru Endo has opened up on the ankle injury that has kept him out of action for almost two months.
Midway through the second half of the 1-0 win over Sunderland on 11 February, the Japan international – filling in at right-back amid an injury crisis – suffered what Arne Slot immediately described as a serious ankle injury
Endo’s left foot appeared to get caught in the turf as he stretched to cut out a low cross, his ankle twisting awkwardly under his body weight. He initially tried to carry on to defend a corner but was not able to continue prompting urgent treatment from Liverpool’s medical staff. After several minutes, he was stretchered off, reportedly needing oxygen.
The details of his injury were not too clear at the time, but now the Japan skipper has revealed all while speaking on the Kodansha’s Red Machine podcast series:
“The injury is quite hard to explain. It was a ligament injury. The ligament is completely gone. In the end I needed surgery to fix it.”
“I had two options: to put a plate on my foot to connect four bones [or] to put an artificial ligament in the first and second bones. I chose the second one, an artificial ligament, because it’s a bit easier to do the rehab. To put a plate in I needed to take it out after three months. “
“The doctor in the UK said I could play with a plate at the World Cup and after the World Cup maybe I’d need to take it off and then I’d need another three months to rehab. This artificial ligament just needs three months, I don’t need to take it off.”
The 33-year-old added that he is targeting a return in time for the World Cup, with the 31st of May his ideal goal to return to action:
“I’m hoping to play at the World Cup, I think that’s my target. Also, a target is the 31st of May, because the national team has friendlies games [then] and we could have the Champions League final.”
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