From bad to worse: Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho set to miss start of season

MAMADOU SAKHO has been hit by a new blow after being ruled out of the start of the season with an Achilles injury.

By Chris McKenna                    

KNOCKOUT BLOW: Sakho could miss a couple of Liverpool's opening fixtures

The bad news comes after the Liverpool and France defender found out he need not have missed the Reds Europa League final defeat against Seville or his country’s run to the final of Euro 2016 on home soil.

Sakho missed the blockbuster after being hit with a 30-day UEFA suspension following a failed drugs test in March, after traces of a fat burner were found in his sample.

But UEFA cleared the 26-year-old last Friday and now Sakho is facing up to the heartbreak of being on the sidelines once again after learning he will not play Liverpool’s Premier League curtain raiser against Arsenal.

During his suspension Sakho, who is also a doubt for Liverpool’s clash with Burnley, underwent treatment on an Achilles problem which means he may not be able to train for up to a month.

And Kop boss Jurgen Klopp revealed: “He had a little issue with his Achilles when he was playing, one day on, one off, this kind of thing.

“He has got some rehab of course and it’s not too good a situation for him”

Jurgen Klopp

“When he had his little ‘break’ he used the time to have a little bit of treatment and that now means another three or four weeks before he can train again.

“There was no surgery. He is just not about to train at the moment.

“He has got some rehab of course and it’s not too good a situation for him, us, everybody.

“He’s here, he’s not available at the moment but he is doing rehab. We will see how he reacts to that and then when he can play again.”

Klopp was hesitant to talk about UEFA dismissing the doping case because the complex process is still not over.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has refused to rule out appealing UEFA’s decision to clear the player of taking a banned substance.
Sakho is reportedly considering taking legal action against WADA over the series of events that led him to miss the Europa League final and France’s Euro 2016 campaign.
Despite being available to play for his country, France boss Didier Deschamps opted not to call him up due to his lack of game time at the back end of last season.
Meanwhile, Jordon Ibe is closing in on a £15m move from Liverpool to Bournemouth after agreeing personal terms.
The winger is believed to have said his goodbyes at the Reds’ Melwood training ground yesterday and could sign for the South coast outfit as early as today.