Liverpool defender ruled out for 6 months after cruciate ligament damage

Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne has been banned for six months after a serious cruciate ligament injury in the United States.

The back has been missing with Jurgen Klopp's men for the preseason, having made his six-month loan to Bournemouth, although it is not in the plans of the first German team for the coming season.

Clyne had aroused the interest of many teams in the Premier League, a summer outing of Liverpool is increasingly likely. It was until the club revealed on its official website that the 28-year-old had undergone a cruciate ligament that would keep him inactive for six months.

West Ham was registered with an interest in Clyne, with Crystal Palace and the Cherries, although news of the injury makes it almost certain that the defender will spend another season at Anfield.

Klopp said about the back injury: "What can I say except that we are all spoiled for Clyney. He was training and playing so well – he was in excellent shape.

"Obviously, an injury of this nature is not a happy moment for any player, but the good thing is that, according to the doctors, it is a single injury of the ACL. This means that repairing it and returning it should follow a path free of pitfalls and complications.

"At the moment, there is not much more to say that we will all support Clyney in every way possible and look forward to seeing him on the ground as soon as possible. He is a very good professional and he is naturally very fit and strong. All these things are in his favor. "

Since he left the Saints to travel to Merseyside for a five year contract worth £ 12.5m in 2015, Clyne has made 103 appearances for the club, scoring twice in the process. He had, however, fallen out of favor in the previous two seasons, making only seven Premier League appearances in those campaigns.