Liverpool star plagued by nightmare injury medical staff have 'never seen before'

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has opened up on his injury struggles this season after missing more than four months of football.

Jota, 26, missed the start of the campaign after suffering a hamstring tear while on the club's pre-season tour of Thailand in July.

After recovering and returning to the team, he then sustained serious calf injury in a match against Manchester City in October.

It subsequently ruled him out of action for around four months, forcing the Portugal international to miss the winter World Cup in Qatar.

Jota returned to the side last month, coming off the bench in the 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby.

He has been limited to just six starts in the Premier League this season, two of which came in Liverpool's recent goalless draw at Crystal Palace and the 2-0 victory over former club Wolves at the start of the month.

Jota: They hadn't seen my injury before

Speaking to Liverpool's official programme, Jota opened up on the severity of the calf problem - revealing that the club's medical staff were baffled by the issue.

"I had a strange calf injury," he said.

"They said to me they haven't seen it before, most of the people, so we needed to ask for the help of some specialists as well to try and get over it and of course to give it a little bit more time because of the complexity and just to be safe.

"But yes, it was very hard, a long time. The results, to be honest, didn't help as well so it was very frustrating to see things happening and not be able to help in any way - well apart from the dressing-room talks, but not on the field.

"Like I said, I felt good on the pitch at Crystal Palace and I feel improvement in each game I have. Hopefully I can have more impact on the team because I know we need goals and I want to contribute to the goals as well.

"I just need to get my certainty back and I think that will come with more minutes and hopefully I can help with the team with goals and assists. The next game is another opportunity.

"It was a long time ago since I started and it felt good on the pitch. I had good sensations. Obviously we scored no goals (against Palace) and that is what I am here for but it felt good to be back.

"I hope I can now play an important part because it has been ages - four months - since I last played from the start against Manchester City. I have to admit it felt strange, I was not used to playing in the Premier League anymore."