Dejan Lovren is still feeling the effects of the World Cup.
Lovren has revealed that he has been unable to train since returning to Liverpool due to an ongoing stomach issue.
The Reds centre-half, whose Croatia side went all the way to the World Cup final in Russia, claims that he has been experiencing pain in his abdomen since the summer tournament.
Lovren fought through the pain to represent his country but with Liverpool’s Premier League opener against West Ham on the horizon, the defender will be forced to see a specialist.
“I cannot train at all because of stomach muscle issues. I am suffering a lot of pain and will see a specialist doctor in the Netherlands,” Lovren told Sportske novosti, via Goal.
“When did I start to feel it? I felt it during the World Cup. I played with pain and those three games killed me. But who wouldn’t play for Croatia at such a big tournament!
“After the World Cup finished, the pain increased. I can’t even sit in my car without feeling it and to get out of the car hurts like hell!
“I’d always grit my teeth and play for Croatia, but now I am paying the price. But no price is too high for what we achieved in Russia.”
Last season, Lovren admitted that he was taking up to five pills before every Liverpool game in order to combat the pain stemming from several injuries.
No sympathy there https://t.co/vZPcw2yap8
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 2, 2017
And after returning to Merseyside with another problem, the 29-year-old admitted that Jurgen Klopp and his coaching staff are not exactly thrilled about the matter.
“Of course, they are not happy,” Lovren said.
“I haven’t trained since I returned from holiday. I can’t.
“I’ll reassess things after seeing the doctor in Netherlands. I have to deal with that for now and believe it will be OK.
“I hoped it would pass during my holiday, but it didn’t. As I went for a swim, it hurt. I couldn’t even rest normally.”
