Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho pulls out of France squad
Monday 9 November 2015 20:16, UK
Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho has been ruled out of France's upcoming friendlies against Germany and England through injury.
The 25-year-old has avoided rupturing a cruciate ligament in his right leg, after suffering the injury during Liverpool's 2-1 league defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday
Sakho underwent scans on Monday that ruled out an ACL problem but he will meet with consultants on Tuesday to get a clearer picture of the damage and a prognosis on recovery.
And he is certain to miss international duty, while he is also a doubt for Liverpool's next game against Manchester City in a fortnight's time.
The French Football Federation said: "Mamadou Sakho, who suffered a sprained right knee during Liverpool's game against Crystal Palace, has been forced to withdraw for France's upcoming international friendly games.
"His condition does not allow him to travel to Clairefontaine as originally planned on Monday morning.
"The medical staffs of Liverpool and Team France have been in contact since Sunday night and the player will undergo an MRI today in England."
France coach Didier Deschamps has called up St Etienne defender Loic Perrin as Sakho's replacement.
Meanwhile, Jordan Ibe has bruising on his knee following a collision at Anfield but it us understood to be not too serious and it will not rule him out of the trip to the Etihad on November 21.