Naby Keïta Officially Withdraws from Guinea Squad for Remainder of Africa Cup of Nations

The midfielder will take the next three weeks to rest and recover before joining pre-season training.

However much further Guinea manage to go at the Africa Cup of Nations, Naby Keïta will not have a role to play, with the player announcing his re-injured thigh—classed a minor adductor strain by the club’s doctors—would keep him from playing.

Instead, the player will focus on rest and recovery for the next three weeks and is then, pending fitness, expected to join pre-season towards the end of July, likely at some point after the club return from their American pre-season tour dates.

“I could not return to Egypt to continue at the Cup,” Keïta said on his Instagram earlier today. “On this I ask you to forgive me. I will return to my professional club and hope to serve my nation better very soon. Good luck to the team for tonight.”

Guinea take on Algeria this evening in the Round of 16 with the chance to advance to the quarter-finals against Mali or Côte d’Ivoire, though without a fit Keïta in the squad they will not be favourites—either tonight or moving forward if they do advance.

For Liverpool, players without international commitments this summer have already returned to training and will take on Tranmere Rovers on Thursday followed by Bradford City on Sunday before the club embrak on their American pre-seaosn tour.

Then, they return to Europe for a short training camp in France, more pre-season friendlies, and the Community Shield against Manchester City—set for August 4th—before their season begins against Norwich on Friday, August 9th.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com