Liverpool striker Fabio Borini has suffered a foot fracture while on international duty with Italy’s Under-21 side.

The Italian was due to play Sweden on Friday in the Under-21 Championships but an MRI scan revealed the injury.

It also leaves Liverpool with a striker crisis, with Luis Suarez their only recognisable striker.

Manager Brendan Rodgers will now be relying on youngsters such as Adam Morgan and Samed Yesil to step up to the fore during Borini’s rehabilitation.

It also leaves Italy’s Under-21 manager Devis Mangia with a headache as he now has to patch up his side as they go into their double header with the Swedes. The return fixture is next week. Whoever wins books their place in the 2013 European Championship in Israel.

At his disposal now are strikers Giuseppe De Luca of Atalanta, Manolo Gabbiadini of Bologna, Ciro Immobile of Genoa and Samuele Longo of Espanyol.

The injury comes days after Borini called for ‘the utmost concentration’ over both legs as the Under-21 side beat Belarus 2-0 in the first leg, only to beaten 3-0 in the return fixture in 2010.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has defended Luis Suarez after the striker received further criticism over diving.

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis called for the FA to punish Suarez for falling too easily during their trip to Anfield last weekend.

Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce called on the FA to take action after describing diving as “a cancer within the game” prompting the Uruguayan FA to write a letter to president Sepp Blatter, and Ayre believes Suarez is being punished for his previous reputation.
“I think [he has a] reputation because of what happened last season,” Ayre told Sky Sports News.

“Now everything Luis Suarez does is in the spotlight, but if we are going to treat people because of something they do on the pitch then we should treat everybody equally.

“I am not saying that anyone in particular is targeting him; what I am saying is if there is going to be a debate, whether it’s a media debate or other, then it has to be a fair one about everybody and not about Luis Suarez which seems to be the case.”

Ayre is hoping the criticism doesn’t affect the 25-year-old, claiming the striker is being unfairly singled out.

“I am not surprised by the reaction because we all feel he is a bit of target,” he said.

“If you look from the start of this season or perhaps the end of last season through to last weekend, I think it is fair to say Luis hasn’t had the luck of the draw really in terms of decisions.

“It was proven on your channel and others that on many occasions that he was denied what he should have been given.

“I just feel his style of play, the way he kind of nips in and out he’s just a target for tackles and defenders if you like.

“What I would say he has not had the rub of the green in terms of decisions but hopefully that changes as the season goes on.

“The most important thing is it doesn’t affect Luis, he just turns it on each week and puts himself out there and he will keep going and that is what we need from him.”

Liverpool youngster Suso has signalled his desire to sign a new contract with the Reds, describing the club as “ideal” for him.

The 18-year-old joined the Merseyside outfit from boyhood club Cadiz in 2010 and made his first-team debut in the recent 5-3 Europa League win over Young Boys.

And, with his current deal set to expire in the summer, the attacker has underlined his intention to pen new terms as soon as possible.

“Liverpool is the ideal club for me. I’ll sign a new deal soon and be here for a long time. The fans can relax, it’ll be done A.S.A.P,” he told the ‘Al Primer Toque’ show on Spanish radio station COPE.

Suso also revealed that things changed for the worse at Liverpool under Roy Hodgson, after he had been tempted to join the club by the Englishman’s predecessor Rafael Benitez.

“Rafa phoned me and convinced me to leave Cadiz CF. When he left us and Hodgson came in, everything was totally the opposite,” he added.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has also revealed his willingness to offer the youngster a new contract following his impressive recent performances.

“He’s in the last year of his contract, and it’s something we will look at,” Rodgers said in the Daily Mirror. “We did have a couple of offers for Suso in the summer, but I always said I didn’t want him to go.”