Hungary has committed to doing “everything possible” to ensure Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai can play in Nations League matches against Georgia and Northern Ireland in the coming days.
The 26-year-old player was substituted in the 69th minute during Liverpool’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, with Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola noting that Szoboszlai was “not 100%” due to a knee issue.
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On Tuesday, the Hungarian Football Federation released a statement on X, asserting that the national team’s medical team will work hard to ensure the team captain is fit for the coaching staff as soon as possible. They cautioned that a decision about his availability will likely come at the last moment.
Hungary currently occupies second place in Nations League Group B2, trailing leaders Northern Ireland by one point, with a crucial encounter against them scheduled for 17 November in Budapest.
Prior to that pivotal match, Marco Rossi’s team will face Georgia on Saturday.
Following the win over Crystal Palace, which propelled Liverpool to fourth in the Premier League, Iraola acknowledged Szoboszlai’s dedication to the national team.
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“I know he will do everything to go because he loves to play with the national team, but he was not 100% when he finished the game,” Iraola said. “I suppose they will have to analyse, the medical staff, and see what it is. I know what I want, but I also have to understand the national teams. I’m sure that Dom, if he is fine, will want to go, but I’m not sure if he’s going to be fine.”
Szoboszlai, along with Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, missed Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City last month, following a four-game international break, as Iraola aims to avoid straining his roster further.
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“The last thing we need now is to lose players during the international games,” he stated. “Last time, in the international break, we lost three very important players, so now I’m praying – it’s the last thing we need. I think [Szoboszlai] extended a little bit the knee; it was fine but not 100%, so he has to be careful to see if he can play with the national team or not.”
