Nathaniel Clyne injury: Liverpool defender facing lengthy lay-off after rupturing knee ligament in pre-season

Clyne suffered the injury just before being substituted in the club's friendly with Borussia Dortmund in New York on Friday

Liverpool defender Nathaniel Clyne faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament during the club's pre-season tour of the United States.

Clyne suffered the injury just before being substituted in the club's friendly with Borussia Dortmund in New York on Friday.

The 28-year-old right-back waited for the swelling to subside and after the level of damage was ascertained flew back to the UK late on Sunday.

Clyne only has 12 months left remaining on his contract and looked set to depart the club this summer on a short or long-term deal.

But the injury, which is likely to sideline him for much of the upcoming season, has put paid to any move away.

“What can I say other than how gutted we all are for Clyney. He was training and playing so well - he was in outstanding shape," manager Jurgen Klopp told the club's website.

“Clearly an injury of this nature isn’t a happy moment for any player, but the silver lining for him is that, according to the medical guys, it’s a straightforward ACL injury. This means fixing it and coming back from it should follow a path that is free from pitfalls and complications.

“At the moment there isn’t much more to say beyond we’ll all support Clyney in whatever way we can and we look forward to seeing him back on the pitch as soon as responsibly possible.

“He is such a sound professional and is naturally very fit and strong, so all these things are in his favour.”

Clyne, who spent last season on loan at fellow Premier League side Bournemouth, was sidelined for most of the 2017-18 season with a back injury.

And he's now set for another lengthy lay-off with his long-term future at Anfield now firmly in doubt.