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Injuries pile up for Liverpool ahead of Reading match

Several Liverpool players have been injured on international duty.

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Shaun Botterill - Getty Images

It is no secret that Liverpool have a very thin squad. It's one of the major talking points in the League this season that the summer transfer window left the Reds with only two senior strikers, neither of whom are pure finishers. Luis Suarez creates a ton of chances, but doesn't convert them at a meaningful enough rate, and Fabio Borini was untried at the top level and has been deployed as a wide-man in Brendan Rodgers' 4-3-3.

Which means that this international break (pun not intended) has been very, very bad for Liverpool.

Borini to undergo surgery - Liverpool FC

Liverpool have confirmed Fabio Borini is to undergo an operation on a fractured bone in his foot....

Typically, an injury of this nature requires a three-month rehabilitation period.

Borini had already missed Liverpool's match against Stoke and it looks like Suso will get further chances to prove his worth.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch...

Liverpool keeper Reina to undergo tests on injury sustained in Spain warm-up - Goal.com

Liverpool will face an anxious wait over Pepe Reina's fitness after the goalkeeper picked up a muscle injury...

Reina told reporters: "The injury is not serious. I got injured at half-time. Today [Wednesday] I will do more tests at Liverpool."

At home, against Reading, Reina looked to be a good play at keeper for fantasy managers. If he can't go, then Brad Jones certainly becomes a value option. The danger is that we won't know in time to set our lineups. And that's the real shame.

In slightly older news (but it's certainly worth noting here)...

TheFA.com - Stuart Pearce says Raheem Sterling has been 'outstanding' in training for England Under-21s

Andre Wisdom and Manchester United’s midfielder Nick Powell have returned to their clubs due to injury and illness.

"Andre went over on his shoulder playing for his club and it was something that just didn’t ease up at all," revealed Pearce.

"We got him on the training pitch on Wednesday but we just felt that it wasn’t easing up, so he’s gone back to Liverpool.

As with Reina/Jones above, Wisdom looks a good pick, hosting Reading. This is especially true since he's first choice with Jose Enrique injured, along with Martin Kelly. Here's hoping we have a better sense of his status before the week's fantasy deadline passes.