Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has admitted that he was shocked to discover that he had suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The 18-year-old has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after sustaining the injury while playing for England Under-21s against Kazhakhstan last month.

Gomez, who moved to Liverpool from Charlton Athletic during the summer, has said that it was a great disappointment to see his debut campaign at Anfield cut short.

"I was absolutely devastated," he told the Liverpool Echo. "When I came back to Liverpool, I knew I wasn't going to be fit for the manager's first game at Tottenham but I was hoping I'd be back available before too long.

"The physio Chris [Morgan] and the doctor (Andy Massey) didn't say anything before the scan but my knee had swollen up and I think they knew straight away.

"When they got the results, I could tell by the doctor's face that it wasn't good news. To be told it was my cruciate was tough to take."

Gomez made seven appearances for Liverpool before the injury.