Liverpool handed Darwin Nunez boost ahead of 2023/24 season

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez has been left out of Marcelo Bielsa's first Uruguay squad for the June internationals, allowing the 23-year-old to focus on his recovery from a toe injury.

'El Loco' has decided to call upon several young and uncapped players for his first games in charge of La Celeste, who will take on Nicaragua and Cuba in two friendlies in Montevideo later this month.

While the likes of Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur will miss out through serious injury, Nunez is among several big-name stars who have been overlooked, with reports from South America suggesting Bielsa wants to evaluate players on the fringes of previous squads and those coming through Uruguay's youth setups.

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde and Chelsea transfer target Manuel Ugarte have also been omitted from the squad.

Nunez missed Liverpool's final three games of the 2022/23 season due to a toe injury, and though he stepped up his recovery in the last week of the campaign, he was left out of the matchday squad for the Reds' closing fixture - a chaotic 4-4 draw away at relegated Southampton.

The good news for Liverpool is that Nunez will not have the opportunity to aggravate that injury or pick up a fresh problem ahead of pre-season, which will begin at the start of July.

The forward impressed in patches during his debut season at Anfield, but failed to string together a prolific run of form and was criticised for his energetic wastefulness in front of goal.

Nunez ended the season with 15 goals and four assists in 42 games across all competitions, splitting his time between playing as a centre forward and on the left wing.

Liverpool 2023/24 pre-season plans

Liverpool will reconvene for pre-season training on July 8, and they currently have three fixtures pencilled in prior to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

They will be the visitors at the opening of German side Karlsruher's new Wildparkstadion in mid-July, before jetting off to Singapore to face Leicester City and Bayern Munich.

Reports in recent days claim Liverpool are hoping to use Preston North End's Deepdale as a 'home' venue for a final pre-season fixture. The Anfield Road stand is still being redeveloped and the club will ask the Premier League to open the campaign with an away game.

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