Klopp calls Gomez ‘brave’ for suffering injury for his team

Jurgen Klopp has called Joe Gomez ‘brave’ for continuing to play with an injury against Stoke last month, even if it wasn’t the smartest move.

The 20-year old versatile defender suffered a reassurance of an ankle injury against the Potters which has ruled him out for the final few games of the season, and even put the World Cup out of his reach.

The former Charlton Athletic academy product underwent surgery and is expected to return to action for the start of pre-season training in the summer.

Reflecting on the injury in his pre-Brighton press conference, Klopp had this to say;

That’s absolutely something nobody needs.

We spoke about it a few times already, it’s like he sacrificed himself a little bit but we didn’t know [at the time].

It happened early in the Stoke game. It was not his best game obviously, but after the game the explanation came pretty soon. He got the injury early in the game and carried on and wanted to help the team.

I told him already, it was not the smartest decision in his life but it was a really brave decision. Now he is obviously out, I’m not sure if he didn’t play on [it wouldn’t have been as bad] – nobody told me that would have helped massively.

It was what it was and now he is out for the rest of the season, which is really hard for us and for him – and exactly the same for the World Cup.

It’s nothing you want, but something you have to accept and he has to accept. He is good in that. He is here and is doing his rehab; it’s already done, now he can count the days down until when he is back, but it is not early enough for the World Cup.

Gomez has enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Reds this season, having started over 20 times in the Premier League, and will be hoping to kick on next season.