Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could be set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines after he was pictured leaving hospital with his right leg in a protective cast on Sunday.
GettyImagesSteven Gerrard made a brief return, before his ankle was infected.
Gerrard, 31, missed Liverpool’s 2-0 win at West Brom on Saturday after contracting an infection in his right ankle during training. The skipper had only just returned from a groin injury (which was also complicated by an infection) that kept him out of action for six months.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish confirmed the cause of the problem after the game on Saturday, but refused to be drawn on his recovery time.
”Steven has got an infection in his ankle,” Dalglish said. ‘He was in our minds for the game and it just flared up. We will be more accurate next week (in terms of making a diagnosis).
”It’s nothing to do with any injuries before. It’s an infection. I suppose it’s like having an abscess in your mouth.”
Liverpool will almost certainly be without Gerrard for their next Premier League game against Swansea next weekend, while England coach Fabio Capello will also be fearful that the midfielder will miss the upcoming friendlies against Spain and Sweden at Wembley.
After the international break, Liverpool play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge twice – once in the Premier League, once in a Carling Cup quarter-final – and host table-topping Manchester City at Anfield, by which time they will hope that their influential captain has fully recovered.
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