Lucas ruled out for three months

Lucas Leiva will miss up to three months of the season with a thigh injury, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.

The Brazilian defensive midfielder limped off in the early stages of Liverpool’s Premier League game against Manchester City on Sunday.

Lucas picked up the thigh injury during the team’s pre-game warm-up, but started the game regardless, lasting just four minutes before being replaced by Jonjo Shelvey.

The injury is a huge blow for Lucas, who only recently returned from a cruciate ligament injury that caused him to miss the second half of last season.

“(It) looks like Lucas will be out for a few months. Early indication is he will be back after 2-3 months out,” Rodgers told reporters at a press conference ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League second-leg tie with Hearts.

Rodgers is, however, optimistic that Lucas can make a quick recovery from the injury.

“He is a quick healer so I expect him to be back sooner than that,” he said.

Lucas will miss a number of important fixtures for Liverpool, including a visit from Manchester United and the Merseyside derby.

The Brazilian took to Twitter to reveal his disappointment at picking up another serious injury.

He wrote: “No words to describe my feelings at the moment. It is been hard to be positive but I am sure better days will come. YNWA.”