Emre Can has been named in Joachim Low’s Germany squad for the Confederations Cup, in a blow to Liverpool’s pre-season plans.
Can has made 39 appearances for the Reds in 2016/17, battling through a series of calf problems to play the sixth-most minutes (2,720) in Jurgen Klopp‘s squad.
This comes after playing the second-most minutes of any Liverpool outfield player last season (4,215), as well as spending the summer with Germany at the European Championship in France.
The 23-year-old’s busy schedule is not set to end this month, either, with Can called up as part of Low’s squad for the upcoming Confederations Cup.
Liverpool’s summer target Julian Brandt is also included in a youthful selection.
Germany are included following their World Cup triumph in 2014, and join Australia, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Cameroon and hosts Russia.
The tournament will kick off on June 17, with the final held on July 2, meaning Can could play another three weeks of football before he is afforded a break this summer.
It means that the No. 23 will join Klopp’s squad late for pre-season for the third year running – especially if Germany reach the final, which is likely given the calibre of their opposition.
Can joined the squad late in 2015 after his time with Germany at the U21 European Championship, while he joined the Reds’ tour of the United States late last summer, too, following the Euros in France.
This has no doubt hampered Can’s momentum at Liverpool, finding himself constantly on the back foot in terms of fitness.
It has only been in the second half of the season that Can has been able to hit top form, as he explained in April, attesting to his persistent calf issues.
“For me, this season was a little bit difficult but the last few weeks, I feel better and I think you can see that on the pitch,” he said.
“I have struggled with a few injuries, I had calf problems that was a little bit more than everybody thought.
“But I continue to play and as long as the manager wants me to, I want to as well.”
Given the physical demands of Can’s role, it is no surprise to see him struggle after a lack of rest since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014.
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