The 24-year-old custodian for Liverpool, Caoimhin Kelleher, has had a difficult start to October following reports of an injury.
He was noticeably missing from the Republic of Ireland’s team for their forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Greece. The FAI revealed the 24-man roster on Thursday afternoon.
The national team’s manager, Stephen Kenny, lamented the “unfortunate” timing of the body blow, which resulted in the goaltender needing 12 stitches to repair his knee after a training ground accident that would keep him out of action for several weeks, according to Liverpool Echo.
Due to the injury, Kelleher will not be playing in tonight’s Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise and will not be included in the Ireland squad for their next games.
The 24-year-old has never failed to perform when called upon for Liverpool; last year, after his exploits in the Carabao Cup penalty shootout against Derby, Jurgen Klopp praised him as ‘amazing’.
The Irishman is at Anfield at the same time as Alisson Becker, who has every right to be considered the best custodian in the world despite not winning the Yashin Trophy. It’s just a case of bad timing.
Kelleher might miss the Carabao Cup trip to Bournemouth and the Europa League match against Toulouse, which are scheduled around Halloween. If he had been healthy, he would have anticipated starting both games.
Due to his misfortune, backup goalkeepers Viteszslav Jaros, Marcelo Pitaluga, and Fabian Mrozek may get the chance to start for the first team this month or possibly make appearances in matchday squads if Alisson is rested in certain games.
The Cork native is the best second-choice custodian in the Premier League; hopefully, he’ll bounce back from his ill-timed injury and show us all again.
