Liverpool could be facing an unexpected problem in their attack later this year, with one of their emerging young stars potentially unavailable during a key run of fixtures.
According to Rousing the Kop, there’s a possibility that Rio Ngumoha could be called up to represent England at the U17 World Cup, which takes place in Qatar this November.
Possible Ngumoha absence in November
Fans are already aware that Mo Salah will miss games in December while away at the Africa Cup of Nations, but the potential loss of another forward in the lead-up to that will surely be on Arne Slot’s radar.
Ngumoha, just 17, has made a big impression since breaking into the first team, recording four senior appearances and scoring once. The winger, who joined from Chelsea, recently signed his first professional contract with Liverpool, further committing his future to the club.
His rise has been one of the standout stories of the season, but with the FIFA tournament running from November 3 to 27, he could miss up to six matches — including crucial games against Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.
Despite having already featured for England’s U19s, Ngumoha played for the U17s at the European Championship last summer and has earned 11 caps at that level.
Slot’s challenge if Ngumoha departs
If Ngumoha is selected and Liverpool allow him to go, Slot may be forced to rotate his squad further. Hugo Ekitike has recently been suspended, while new signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are still settling into the team.
Losing another forward option would stretch Liverpool’s depth during an already demanding month.
Although it’s not certain that Ngumoha will travel, the situation underlines just how quickly he has become a valuable asset. His early performances have been electric, and many believe it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a regular starter for the Reds.
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