Ibrahima Konate shares concerning injury update despite Liverpool return

Liverpool’s ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate has admitted he still isn’t 100% fit after returning from a knee injury at the start of the year

The Liverpool defender made his comeback in the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United, starting alongside Virgil van Dijk

The Frenchman had been sidelined since Liverpool’s win over Real Madrid at the end of November

the Reds are now continuing to manage him carefully despite his return.

Wataru Endo was brought on at centre-back in place of the ill Jarell Quansah after 30 minutes against Tottenham Hotspur

Konate was left out of the matchday squad for Saturday’s FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley.

Having also come on as an 80th minute substitute against Spurs, the 25-year-old is in line to earn a recall and start alongside Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool’s trip to Nottingham Forest

But Konate has admitted he pushed himself harder to return to face United after seeing Gomez struck down by injury.

Konate

“I feel good, not 100 per cent, but I just worked on it to come back and to fix my knee because I knew a great game was coming,”

“And when I saw the injury of Joe Gomez – I hope he will come back very quick because he's a very important player for us – I just tried to do everything to come back quicker.

“The game was so important and I wanted to play against Man United. Now we are here to come back 100 per cent.

“I think the manager trusts me because I was injured for six weeks, I trained just one time with the team and I played.

“I think because we know how to defend together and how to play, I was not lost on the pitch.

“I just need more rhythm. I think the mentality in our squad is really together and we just have to keep going this season.”

Meanwhile, Konate admitted up on how much he struggled during his time on the sidelines.

Konate added

“This was the worst for me!”

“Sometimes I didn't want to watch [the] game but I have to.

“When I am on the bench behind the [substitutes'] bench, my leg is just shaking because I really want to be on the pitch with the boys.

“But this sometimes happens and we just have to be patient.

“To be on the pitch, you have the pressure, you have some stress, but for a football player I think this feeling is unbelievable.”