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FOR Liverpool boss Arne Slot, Darwin Nunez’s eligibility in the international window is a big boost.
The forward had faced a five-game suspension following involvement in unpleasant scenes during the Copa America semi-final clash with Colombia in the US last July. In an altercation that saw players dash into the stands amid fan confrontations at North Carolina’s Bank of America Stadium, Nunez was handed a ban last month for his role in the fracas.
Good news arrived on Friday evening when it was disclosed that the Uruguay Football Federation successfully challenged the sanction with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, thereby making Nunez available for World Cup qualifying matches against Peru and Ecuador. Although the appeal might be provisional, with potential repercussions still possible, Nunez has joined his national squad assuming he’s permitted to participate.
Before the reversal was publicised, Kop boss Slot, expressed his inclination for Nunez to join up with Uruguay, hinting at the benefits of international duty: “I would have preferred him to go because I think it is always good for a player to go to his national team, they like to see their team-mates again.”
The Dutchman, thinking ahead, even considered arranging a private match for the club’s players not called up for international duty—a game Nunez could have used to maintain sharpness, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The coach said: “He would have probably played two games, at least one but I think both because he is a starter over there and like you guys are telling me constantly, he hasn’t started that much over here. It would have been good for him to get some playing time there.” Now we will try to find a way of finding playing time over here for him or training time. Ideally for me he would have gone over there. I don’t think it is a good thing for a player being suspended.”
It’s a good thing for a player to go and see his team-mates, get energy over there, get some playing time. We’re working on that (behind-closed-doors fixture).” — Mirror.
Online Reporter