Insider: Darwin Nunez tipped for special programme after Liverpool twist
Darwin Nunez may be following an individual programme before joining up with Liverpool at their mid-season training camp in Dubai.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Nunez’s involvement in the camp was up in the air after Uruguay crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage.
Goal reported on Wednesday (7 December) that he will now join up with his teammates on 12 December after being afforded a week off.
Other players, like Aston Villa’s Matty Cash and Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka, have joined up with their clubs immediately after the tournament.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a disadvantage, as such,” Dinnery told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“Those who weren’t involved in the tournament, dependent on the individual and the club, were given anywhere between seven and 14 days rest after the Premier League.
“Those who headed out to Qatar were not afforded that opportunity. They were working on the training pitch and had those competitive minutes within the legs.
“Typically in these training camps there is work to be done, it’s a change in environment but it’s also to help with that togetherness in the squad.
“That’s all he’ll miss out on the squad, being away from the distractions of home life and as one group.
“Other than that, I don’t think there are any major issues with him missing a bit of that camp.
“When we talk about players being afforded seven or 10 days off, it’s not feet up, there will be some base-level maintenance work that’s going on.
“He might lose a slight bit of sharpness, not a great deal, and that will be picked up ahead of the Premier League.”
In other news, Liverpool have opened talks on £180,000-a-week player deal.