Hugo Ekitike sends defiant message as Liverpool star leaves hospital following Achilles injury

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Hugo Ekitike posted: "I'm out of here, I'll be back soon," as he shared a poignant social media message following surgery. The Liverpool forward faces up to nine months on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon last week.

The Frenchman collapsed during Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield before being carried off on a stretcher. Arne Slot confirmed the devastating news afterwards, revealing that Ekitike faces an extended spell away from football while rehabilitating from the injury.

And now, Ekitike has suggested he will be stepping back from social media as he continues his recovery. The 23-year-old posted an emotional series of images to Instagram on Tuesday afternoon from his @heesheki account, which has 431,000 followers.

The opening image showed him seated in a room wearing a protective boot on his leg, while an AI-generated clip portrayed him running off crutches and netting a goal against Manchester City .

Another showed Ekitike sitting in a wheelchair at hospital, while the fourth captured him gaming with friends.

Arguably the most heartbreaking was another AI-generated image of Ekitike standing in tears while wearing his France strip, reaching towards a shattered World Cup trophy.

That references the reality that the striker will miss this summer's tournament in North America, as well as half of next campaign if projections prove accurate.

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Ekitike also posted a brief video clip featuring the late rapper Mac Miller . The musician, who tragically passed away aged just 26 in 2018, can be heard saying in the footage: "Life is good though.

"I want y'all to see that life is great. Your life is great too. Have a good time, man.

"Have some fun, having fun is okay. Get some love in your life, whether that be another person or just loving yourself, man. Love is good, spread love.

"Spread love. I'm out of here, I'll be back soon."

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Ekitike also shared the clip to his stories section on his account. Liverpool were swift to respond to the post, rallying behind their striker as he faces a lengthy road to recovery.

They wrote: "We're with you all the way, Hugo."

The Reds' next fixture is a home tie against Crystal Palace on Saturday, April 25.