Hugo Ekitike injury: Liverpool striker suffers 'serious' ruptured Achilles and will miss rest of season and World Cup

Liverpool have confirmed that striker Hugo Ekitike has sustained a "serious" Achilles injury and will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup with France.

The forward had to be substituted during the first half of Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield after a slip on the turf and scans on the injury have confirmed a rupture of the Achilles tendon.

There are fears the 23-year-old could be out for at least six months and the worst-case scenario is an absence as long as nine months, but it will take more analysis to determine a timeline for his recovery.

Liverpool confirmed on Thursday: "Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer's World Cup with France."

Didier Deschamps, the France head coach, said: "Hugo is one of the dozen young players who have made their debuts with the national team in recent months.

"He had perfectly integrated into the group, both on the pitch and off it. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team.

"His disappointment is immense. Hugo will regain his top form, I'm convinced of it.

"But I wanted to express all my support to him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he'll be fully behind the France team and we're all thinking of him very strongly."

Ekitike picked up the injury just as Alexander Isak returned from his serious leg injury, with the British record transfer making his first start since fracturing his ankle in December.

Ekitike has scored 19 goals for Liverpool and France this season after signing from Eintracht Frankfurt for £79m last summer.

His injury comes at a crucial time as Liverpool aim to secure a place in next season's Champions League. They sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and four points ahead of Chelsea.