Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes that the club has suffered a huge blow with the loss of Martin Skrtel until Christmas, but thinks that the Reds can cope due to the strength in depth of the squad.
The Slovakian international has been ruled out for at least 10 weeks after suffering posterior ligament damage in his right knee. The 23 year-old was injured during the course of the Reds' 3-2 win over Manchester City last Sunday.
Skrtel's injury looked at first to have been a disaster for Rafa Benitez's side, with initial prognoses ruling the defender out of action until the end of this season.
However, a re-check confirmed that Skrtel will not require surgery and will be fit for a first-team return around the end of December.
Skrtel and Jamie Carragher had just begun to build up a strong partnership in the centre of the Liverpool backline following the former's arrival from Zenit St Petersburg in January of this year.
Carragher acknowledges the gravity of Skrtel's injury for the club, but nevertheless believes that Liverpool can cope with the loss of one of their key-performers, with the likes of Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia ready to deputise.
He told the official Liverpool website: "It's a massive blow – Martin has been a great player for us since he arrived at the club.
"We didn't know much about him when he first came to the club, but he's done very well. He has cemented himself in the Liverpool team quite quickly - which is a very tough thing to do.
"It's just unfortunate for him that it's such a bad injury but obviously it gives someone else a chance to get a run in the team.
"That's why you need a big squad in a long season and credit to the manager as well, he's seen that we didn't have enough players in that area of the pitch at times last season and we have Hyypia and Agger who can come in now."
The Liverpool stalwart admits to fearing the worst when Skrtel hit the turf on Sunday. The 30 year-old suffered a leg-break in 2003 and stated that he was relieved for Skrtel when the results were revealed.
He continued: "We saw Martin on the pitch and realised it wasn't good, and you don't really know about these injuries until a day or two afterwards with all the scans.
"He walked onto the coach after the game so we thought it wasn't too bad then, but it's still not nice to look at when you see it on the TV.
"He doesn't need an operation and it's not as bad as we feared - so hopefully he'll be back for the games at Christmas."
The Slovakian international has been ruled out for at least 10 weeks after suffering posterior ligament damage in his right knee. The 23 year-old was injured during the course of the Reds' 3-2 win over Manchester City last Sunday.
Skrtel's injury looked at first to have been a disaster for Rafa Benitez's side, with initial prognoses ruling the defender out of action until the end of this season.
However, a re-check confirmed that Skrtel will not require surgery and will be fit for a first-team return around the end of December.
Skrtel and Jamie Carragher had just begun to build up a strong partnership in the centre of the Liverpool backline following the former's arrival from Zenit St Petersburg in January of this year.
Carragher acknowledges the gravity of Skrtel's injury for the club, but nevertheless believes that Liverpool can cope with the loss of one of their key-performers, with the likes of Daniel Agger and Sami Hyypia ready to deputise.
He told the official Liverpool website: "It's a massive blow – Martin has been a great player for us since he arrived at the club.
"We didn't know much about him when he first came to the club, but he's done very well. He has cemented himself in the Liverpool team quite quickly - which is a very tough thing to do.
"It's just unfortunate for him that it's such a bad injury but obviously it gives someone else a chance to get a run in the team.
"That's why you need a big squad in a long season and credit to the manager as well, he's seen that we didn't have enough players in that area of the pitch at times last season and we have Hyypia and Agger who can come in now."
The Liverpool stalwart admits to fearing the worst when Skrtel hit the turf on Sunday. The 30 year-old suffered a leg-break in 2003 and stated that he was relieved for Skrtel when the results were revealed.
He continued: "We saw Martin on the pitch and realised it wasn't good, and you don't really know about these injuries until a day or two afterwards with all the scans.
"He walked onto the coach after the game so we thought it wasn't too bad then, but it's still not nice to look at when you see it on the TV.
"He doesn't need an operation and it's not as bad as we feared - so hopefully he'll be back for the games at Christmas."
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