Arne Slot can turn to ‘rock solid’ youth star after Ibrahima Konate’s latest injury setback

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Arne Slot may soon be forced to turn to his youth academy after the Liverpool boss received news of another injury setback.

Reports broke on Saturday that Ibrahima Konate has been dismissed from international duty with France after sustaining a quad injury and will return to Merseyside.

The Reds already lost summer signing Giovanni Leoni to an ACL injury, with the Italian set to miss the entirety of his maiden season at Anfield.

This comes at the worst possible time for Slot, who must find a solution to his side’s torrid form after losing three consecutive matches across all competitions heading into the international break.

Liverpool failed to sign Marc Guehi on deadline day after Crystal Palace pulled the plug on the deal, and now they have only two available senior options at centre-back.

However, the Reds can utilise their youth prospects and give an opportunity to a player who made his first non-competitive appearance for the senior side during pre-season.

Wellity Lucky could benefit from Ibrahima Konate’s injury

Wellity Lucky played half an hour in the double header against Athletic Bilbao in the final match of pre-season, just over a fortnight after penning a three-year contract extension.

Slot has proven he is willing to place his trust in the youth this season, the Dutchman promoted Trey Nyoni and “Premier League wonderkid” Rio Ngumoha to the senior squad with the latter featuring prominently off the bench.

The 19-year-old attracted proposals from top-flight clubs in Germany and Spain before committing his future to Anfield and has continued his leading role in Rob Page’s new-look Under-21s side.

Former Under-21s manager Barry Lewtas spoke highly of Lucky as well as fellow youth prodigy Amara Nallo following a 0-0 draw against AC Milan in the UEFA Youth League last season.

“A clean sheet is massive for them because there’s been a few games this season where there has been a few mistakes and things like that but they were rock solid to be fair to them,” Lewtas said to the Liverpool ECHO.

“They blocked, they tackled, they headed everything away and I thought at times they were the moments we were quite good in possession as well and we just couldn’t move up the pitch enough as a team.”

Although the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo can deputise in central defence if called upon, Liverpool clearly rate Lucky highly and could benefit from the presence of another natural centre-back.

Joe Gomez is likely to be the Ibrahima Konate replacement

Should Konate be ruled out for a sustained period, Joe Gomez is the next name in the pecking order to line up alongside Virgil van Dijk.

The pair forged a formidable partnership during the 2019/20 title-winning campaign, but the Englishman would go on to lose his starting berth to Konate.

Indeed, the prospect of promoting Lucky is certainly one that would excite Liverpool fans, who have thoroughly enjoyed Ngumoha’s rise to stardom this season.

However, Slot must be realistic as he faces a pivotal stage of his Anfield tenure. A fourth straight defeat, particularly against United, would spark panic at the club, so the safe and sensible option is to bring Gomez back into the fold.

That doesn’t mean Lucky won’t have further opportunities in the future, depending on the extent of Konate’s injury.