Hungary to make late Szoboszlai fitness decision after Liverpool knee problem

Hungary will leave a decision on captain Dominik Szoboszlai's availability until late as medical staff assess a knee problem sustained on Liverpool duty. According to BBC Sport, the Hungarian Football Federation said on Tuesday that it would work to make the midfielder available for the national team's forthcoming Nations League matches, without confirming that he could play.

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The 26-year-old came off after 69 minutes of Liverpool's 3-1 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said afterwards that Szoboszlai had finished the match short of full fitness and needed further medical assessment. The midfielder has made eight Premier League appearances this season, with the Palace result taking Liverpool into fourth place.

In its statement on X, the Hungarian federation said the national team's medical staff would spend the coming days trying to return Szoboszlai to the coaching staff's disposal. It indicated that a selection decision was unlikely to be possible until the last minute. The update did not establish that the captain would be fit for either of Hungary's two remaining fixtures.

Marco Rossi's team are due to visit Georgia on Saturday before hosting Northern Ireland in Budapest on 17 November to complete their Nations League campaign. Hungary sit second in Group B2, a point behind Northern Ireland. That narrow gap gives the final meeting particular importance, although Hungary first have the away match in Georgia to negotiate.

Iraola acknowledged after the Palace game that Szoboszlai was eager to represent his country and would want to join up if fit. But the Liverpool manager also expressed uncertainty about whether the player would be ready. He described a knee-extension issue and stressed the need for care, leaving the assessment of his condition to medical staff rather than declaring him available.

Liverpool's concern follows the previous international window, after which Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo missed the club's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City in October. BBC Sport reported that Iraola was anxious to avoid further absences after losing those three players following that four-game international period. Hungary's latest statement leaves the immediate question unresolved: their captain is being assessed, with participation still dependent on his fitness.