Liverpool Suffer Injury Blow as Johnson Faces 10 Weeks Out

Liverpool could be without first choice right-back Glen Johnson for more than two months after the injury he received in the win against Manchester United has been ruled worse than first thought.

Johnson limped off against United after suffering a high ankle sprain and the club initially refused to put a timescale on how long his recovery would take.

However, the Liverpool Echo report that the England defender is likely to be out of action for 10 weeks in what is a bitter blow for manager Brendan Rodgers.

Liverpool have started the season in superb fashion, with Johnson excelling as part of a back four that are yet to concede a single goal in the Premier League.

The 29 year old is now likely to miss several games for Liverpool as well as the rest of England's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Rodgers signed a number of defenders in the summer transfer window but the likes of Kolo Toure, Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho are more at home in the centre of defence than on the right.

This could mean there is an extended run in the side for Andre Wisdom who made a number of appearances at right-back last season when Johnson was covering on the left for the injured Jose Enrique.

While it is bad news in the defensive department it seems in-form striker Daniel Sturridge could well be back in action for the Reds for their next Premier League game against Swansea.

Sturridge has been in excellent form this season, scoring three Premier League goals in three games, and will soon be lining up alongside Luis Suarez when the Uruguayan returns from suspension.

Suarez's return will add an extra dimension to Liverpool's attack and it seems the Uruguayan will return in good goal-scoring form after scoring twice for his country in a World Cup qualifier.

The Liverpool forward scored both goals in the 2-1 win over Peru and is set to return to action for his club in the Capital One Cup tie against Manchester United.