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Mario Balotelli’s injury woes look set to continue, with reports in Italy suggesting the on-loan Liverpool striker faces three months out with a hernia issue.

Balotelli left the Reds for a season-long loan to Milan back in August, but has managed just three competitive appearances since due to a persistent groin problem.

His last outing came in late-September, and Gazzetta dello Sport report that following a visit to Danish specialist Professor Per Holmich, a hernia has been detected which will require surgery.

That will mean a spell of three months on the sidelines for the 25-year-old, who still harbours ambitions of representing his country at next summer’s European Championships.

From a Liverpool perspective, the injury will jeopardise their hopes of offloading Balotelli on a permanent basis. Milan are under no obligation to sign the frontman at the end of his loan deal, while the Reds are still paying a significant portion of the former Manchester City man’s salary this season.

Balotelli endured an unhappy single season on Merseyside, scoring just four times in 28 appearances following a £16m move from Milan.