Andy Robertson injury: Liverpool defender reveals ligament damage from Athletic Bilbao friendly

The defender appeared to hurt his right ankle while blocking a cross in the pre-season game

Andy Robertson was helped off the pitch in the pre-season friendly (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Andy Robertson has revealed he sustained ligament damage in Liverpool’s pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao.

The defender was helped off the Anfield pitch on Sunday after appearing to hurt his right ankle when blocking a cross shortly before half-time.

The 27-year-old was therefore feared to be a doubt ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League opener against newly promoted Norwich on Sunday, and the left-back confirmed as much on Monday evening.

It is not yet clear how long Robertson will spend on the sidelines, with the recovery time for ankle ligament injuries lasting up to six months in worst-case scenarios.

The Scotland captain said, however, that his injury was “nothing too major”.

“Thanks to everyone for the kind messages and support,” Robertson wrote on Twitter ahead of his team’s final pre-season friendly – against Osasuna at Anfield.

“Scan suggests nothing too major but there’s some ligament damage which will need to mend.

“I will be grafting every day so I can help the team again sooner rather than later.

“Good luck to the boys playing tonight #YNWA.”

While Jurgen Klopp added: “I think we got lucky with Andy, it could have been much worse.

“The footage didn’t look too well but we got lucky and it will not be too long. Before the international break (in early September), after the international break, I don’t know.”

Last season, Liverpool suffered defensive injury woes throughout their campaign, most notably losing first-choice centre-back pair Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez early in the term.

Van Dijk suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in the Merseyside derby against Everton in October, while Gomez also seriously injured his knee during England training in November.

Neither stepped out again for Klopp’s side in the remainder of the season.