Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has strained a muscle in his groin and is doubtful for the Merseyside derby on 17 October.
The 26-year-old lasted just 10 minutes of Sunday’s shock 2-1 defeat to Blackpool and he has withdrawn from Spain’s squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania and Scotland.
“He will have intensive treatment over the next couple of weeks,” said Dr Peter Brukner, head of sports medicine and sports science at Liverpool.
“Fernando was assessed at Melwood [training ground] and underwent a scan,” added Dr Brukner. “But it is too early to say if he will be fit for the game against Everton.”
The injury to Torres’ adductor muscle is similar to the one he suffered in the World Cup final against Holland in July, which forced him to miss the start of the Premier League season.
His withdrawal from the Spain side to face Lithuania on 8 October and Scotland on 12 October may come as a relief to Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson.
He failed in an appeal to Spain coach Vicente del Bosque not to call up the striker for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein and a friendly in Argentina at the beginning of September.
“We had no awareness there were any problems in the groin area,” said Hodgson, following the injury to Torres.
“It happened early in the game, which came as a surprise to us. I don’t know if it happened when he stretched for the ball. I don’t really know.”
