Arne Slot has provided an injury update on Wataru Endo, who has been out action since the win at Sunderland in early February.
Image Credits: Imago Images
Wataru Endo has been missing from action since the 1-0 win away to Sunderland in early February. The challenge initially looked innocuous, but scans later revealed a serious ankle and ligament problem that required surgery and effectively ruled him out for the bulk of the run‑in.
The Japan skipper actually spoke on his injury a few weeks back, explaining that a ligament in his ankle was completely severed:
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Endo also described being moved to tears on the stretcher, not only because of the pain but because of the travelling Liverpool support singing his name as he left the pitch.
However, Arne Slot’s latest update is at least more upbeat. The Dutchman confirmed that Endo has stepped up his rehab work and is now back outside on the grass
Slot said in his pre-Galatasaray press conference:
“Wata is starting to go outside. Not with the team yet, but starting to do exercises outside on the pitch with the rehab team so he is making steps, but he will not be available next week for [Manchester] United or the week after.
“But we are hoping and expecting him to be back in the end of the season.”
Beyond club level, there is a bigger prize in Endo’s mind. Japan will head to the World Cup this summer with genuine ambitions of making a deep run.
Having led his country through qualification, Endo will do everything possible to ensure he is fit enough to wear the armband on the biggest stage once again.