Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has been removed from Uruguay’s squad for upcoming friendlies due to an ankle injury.
Nunez participated in the Reds’ Champions League defeat by Real Madrid earlier this week, though was replaced during the second half of the match to the frustration of many supporters.
Asked to clarify after the match whether this change was injury-related, Jurgen Klopp responded: “Darwin looked like he was not at the absolute top level as well and we needed to defend that side as well. We could change and we wanted to mix things up a bit.”
The Uruguay Football Federation has now claimed Nunez is unavailable for their upcoming friendlies against Japan and South Korea having seemingly suffered a setback.
“Darwin Núñez will not participate due to injury and instead, the interim technical director of the Uruguayan team, Marcelo Broli, called Jonathan Rodríguez,” an official statement confirmed.
“Uruguay will face the local team on March 24 at the National Stadium in Japan and four days later, on the 28th, they will play at the Seoul World Cup Stadium against South Korea.”