Liverpool’s Skrtel suffers broken foot

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel faces a spell on the sidelines after breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot, his manager Rafael Benitez said on Friday.

The Slovakia centreback suffered the injury in Liverpool’s 3-1 Europa League win over Unirea Urziceni on Thursday.

“We were really disappointed after the game because it was a good result but then we had the bad news about Martin,” Reds boss Benitez said.

“He’s had x-rays today and they confirmed he has a broken metatarsal. We have to check over the next couple of days how long it will take to recover.”

The loss of Skrtel is a blow to Liverpool’s hopes of finishing the season with a full-strength squad following the return to action of striker Fernando Torres and midfielder Yossi Benayoun in the past week.

Both are likely to feature in Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Blackburn and Benitez revealed Friday that England rightback Glen Johnson is close to returning to the first team having been out since December with a knee injury.

“He’s doing well. He was training today with the team – a light training session,” said Benitez. “I was watching him and he was quite sharp but Sunday will be too soon.”

Jamie Carragher has been filling at rightback in the England international’s absence but with Skrtel now injured and Sotirios Kyrgiakos suspended, Liverpool’s vice-captain is likely to switch back to the centre.