Roberto Firmino has been forced out of the Brazil squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers due to the injury sustained against Carlisle in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, reports the Guardian.
Firmino exited in the first half a few minutes after mistiming a jump for a header and flying over a defender, landing awkwardly onto the floor. He attempted to play on before being withdrawn.
The Brazilian hasn’t translated the form he’s displayed for the Selacao – nor his form at Hoffenheim that earned him such top reviews – to Anfield.
The injury is a setback for the 23-year-old who has yet to produce what his £29m price tag might have suggested as he transitions to English football.
Firmino has been replaced by the Brazilian league’s top goal scorer Hector Oliveira. Brazil will play both Chile and Venezuela in their qualifiers at the beginning of October.
With Firmino pulling out of the squad, it’s likely that he’ll miss around three weeks of action for Liverpool.
