France and Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse will be out for at least five months after breaking his leg in France’s international friendly World Cup warm-up match against China on Wednesday... (continued below)

Cisse fractured his left fibula and shinbone in the accidental collision and underwent surgery on Wednesday night.

This not only means that he is out of the World Cup Finals, but also his summer move back to France has now been put on hold.

Cisse, who moved to Liverpool from Auxerre in 2004 for £15 million, suffered a similar injury against Blackburn Rovers in the English Premiership in October 2004, and this latest injury has ended any idea of the French striker making a move back to France this summer.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said in Wednesday’s Liverpool Echo: “There are two issues here. Firstly, from the players point of view I'm really sorry for Djibril. That's important. It's really unfortunate for him but it's true it's now impossible for him to be sold.

"We were expecting to sell him to Marseille or Lyon and planned using the money for other players. We were talking to both clubs. Now we won't have this money. We won't expect him to play again until November or December."

Despite Cisse having made it known that he wanted a move from Anfield in the summer, Benitez insists there will be no problem for manager and player working together next season.

"It was a professional decision and we were honest with Djibril," said Benitez. "There will be no problem when he comes back."

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