‘Severe ligament injury’ – Liverpool loanee out for ‘months’, not expected to feature again this year

Liverpool youngster Sepp van den Berg moved to Schalke on loan this season, after spending one and a half seasons on loan with Preston North End.

The move to the Bundesliga was a big deal for the defender, and he thought he could progress more at the higher level. Championship clubs had been in for the 20-year-old, and last week Van den Berg told the Dutch media he’d turned down a loan move to Burnley, in favour of Schalke.

Everything was working out well, with the Liverpool owned player settling quickly and becoming a regular for Schalke. He started the match against FC Augsburg at the weekend but was brought off with an ankle injury.

Van den Berg was then sent to hospital for checks, and the results of those aren’t pleasing for either Liverpool or Schalke. Bild report he’s suffered a ‘severe ligament injury’ and is expected to be out of action for ‘months’. The reports says he won’t feature again this year.

Rodrigo Zalazar was also injured during the match, fracturing a metatarsal.

Rouven Schröder, the club’s sports director, is quoted as saying: “It’s extremely bitter. In the past we’ve shown on several occasions that as a group we can cope with injury-related absences, no matter how serious they are, and we’ll be able to do that again this time. We have absolute confidence in the squad.”