Hugo Ekitike banished any remaining injury fears last night (Thursday) as the Liverpool striker scored as France won their international friendly with Brazil at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts 2-1.
Ekitike jetted out to meet up with his international team-mates for their double header in America after giving Liverpool a scare in last Saturday's 2-1 Premier League loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 23-year-old hobbled off inside the opening 10 minutes at the Amex Stadium and his clear discomfort raised concerns that he was set for a spell on the sidelines.
But Reds head coach Arne Slot allayed those concerns when he said after the match. "Hugo could play tomorrow if he had to.
"It was a dead leg. It was a collision that led to him going off. It was not helpful."
Ekitike proved his club manager right by being named in France's starting line-up, alongside Liverpool team-mate Ibrahima Konate, for the glamour clash with Brazil, who were minus another Red, Alisson Becker, after the goalkeeper pulled out of the squad through injury.
With Alexander Isak sidelined, fellow summer signing Ekitike has made the centre-forward's position his own at Anfield this season.
But the £79m arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt was stationed in a different position by France boss Didier Deschamps against Brazil.
While Bradley Barcola was injured, Deschamps still had an embarrassment of forward riches at his disposal, and to get the rising star into his team alongside Michael Olise, reigning Ballon D'or winner Ousmane Dembele and captain Kylian Mbappe, Ekitike started out on the left.
On just his seventh cap, the fit-again Reds hero took his chance to shine, capping an all-action display with a fine finish in the 65th minute that he dinked over Ederson after being played in by Olise.
That made it 2-0 after Mbappe took a pass from Dembele to open the scoring in style in 32nd minute. It was a goal that moved the Real Madrid superstar within one of equalling France's all-time goalscoring record, set by Olivier Giroud (57 in 137 caps).
Mbappe's 56 goals have come in 95 appearances for his country, who having lost Konate's centre-back partner Dayot Upamecano to a red card, had to hold on after Bremer reduced the deficit for Brazil.
By that stage Ekitike had already been withdrawn and replaced by Desire Doue. Along with Konate and the rest of his France team-mates, he will now head to Maryland for Monday's friendly against Colombia at Northwest Stadium.
Giorgi Mamardashvili, meanwhile, who is deputising for the absent Alisson, played the full 90 minutes as Georgia 2-2 drew with Israel in Tbilisi.
Liverpool return to club action on Saturday week (April 4) with a huge FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester City.
