Liverpool's Cody Gakpo withdraws from Netherlands squad due to injury
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has left the Netherlands camp following an injury sustained against Serbia in the UEFA Nations League.
Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo has officially been ruled out of the remainder of the international break after sustaining an injury while representing the Netherlands. The forward's evening in Belgrade was cut short following a robust challenge from Serbia's Sasa Lukic during their UEFA Nations League fixture.
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed that Gakpo has already left the camp to begin his recovery. Despite his exit, the Dutch coaching staff has opted against calling up a replacement, showing faith in current squad members like Ruben van Bommel and Noa Lang to cover the left flank for the upcoming matches against Greece and the remainder of the break.
Gakpo is now returning to Merseyside for further evaluation by the Liverpool medical staff at the AXA Training Centre. Initial reports from the Dutch camp point to an ankle issue, though the full extent of the damage remains uncertain until further scans are completed in England.
This news comes at a sensitive time for the Reds, who are currently leading the Premier League. The medical team is now working with urgency to determine if the forward can recover in time for the highly anticipated showdown against Manchester City on October 11, a match already viewed as a potential title-deciding encounter.