Football
Mark Rodden 8y

Liverpool striker Divock Origi will get chance to be fit for Euros - Wilmots

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots says he will give Divock Origi every chance to prove his fitness before deciding whether the Liverpool striker can be part of his country's Euro 2016 squad.

Origi, 21, was in excellent form for his club before being stretchered off in their 4-0 Merseyside derby win over Everton last week following a strong challenge from Ramiro Funes Mori.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said after that game that Origi's ankle ligament injury was "serious" but Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported on Thursday that the former Lille player would not need an operation.

It said Origi would only be out for three to four weeks, meaning he could be available for Belgium's first Euro 2016 game against Italy on June 13.

Belgium manager Wilmots, 47, will name his Euro 2016 squad on May 12. He is set to bring just two out-and-out strikers to France, with Origi, Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi all hoping to feature.

On Thursday Wilmots said that Origi is his only doubt and indicated that he would be treated in a similar manner to Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

Casteels was provisionally named in Belgium's 2014 World Cup squad before Wilmots decided at the last minute that the player had not recovered sufficiently from a broken bone in his leg.

"Yes, today, I have my 23, as well as my six standby players" Wilmots told Sudinfo, when asked how close he was to deciding who he should bring to this summer's tournament.

"There's only one question mark concerning Divock Origi.

"But depending on the development [of his injury], I'm going to give him a chance to be there like I gave to Casteels in 2014."

Aside from Origi, Wilmots suggested that many players had secured their place in his squad long ago.

"I've been here for four years," the former Schalke midfielder said.

"I have certainties -- players who have confirmed how highly I thought of them.

"We'll also take players who are in form and who have worked well during the season."

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