Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has said he is finding it ‘tough’ to watch England at the World Cup after his hopes of playing in Russia were shattered by injury.
The 24-year-old had enjoyed a brilliant first season for Liverpool before his campaign was ended prematurely in April, after suffering a serious knee injury in the Champions League semi-final against Roma.
It was tragic timing for the midfielder, who not only missed out on the Reds’ Champions League final against Real Madrid but also a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
And Oxlade-Chamberlain admits it is painful to see his Three Lions team-mates in action in Russia while he watches from his sofa at home.
In an honest and open interview with talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham, the midfielder said: “It’s not an ideal time for me, if I’m being honest.
“It’s obviously been really tough to miss out at this time of the season, at a time when I was feeling so good and felt like I was really finding my feet at Liverpool.
“I felt I was playing some good stuff, I was playing with a lot of confidence and I was a really enjoying my football, so for it to all come crashing down in one moment, with one tackle, it’s never great – but that’s football.