Darwin Núñez has scored seven goals and added seven assists for Liverpool so far this season. Those figures have come across 40 appearances, but his statistics look much better when it’s narrowed to the less than 2000 minutes he’s actually played.

Uruguay face Argentina and Bolivia in the current international break and it was no surprise that Marcelo Bielsa called up the Liverpool player regardless of his woes. Indeed, the former Leeds United manager has called up no less than 38 players for his squad.

Following a difficult week for Liverpool, in which they exited the Champions League to PSG and then lost the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle United, Darwin Núñez has jetted off to join up with the Uruguay squad and sees it as an opportunity to leave his Liverpool woes behind for a bit.

The 25-year-old has been subject to a lot of criticism at times this season and it’s clear some of that has got to him.

After arriving at Carrasco International Airport, the Liverpool player spoke to the media.

Uruguay’s Ovacion quote him as saying: “I’m happy thinking about the national team, enjoying every minute with it; these are moments that one goes through in football, and as I said recently: I’m not someone who throws in the towel because they don’t play, but rather I’m going to keep working so I can play.

“I know I’m not performing as well as I should; it’s difficult because when you’re doing well, like when I came on against PSG, your confidence changes, with the idea of ​​being able to break it in the next match. But then you get a slump, and I’m always there to help my teammates when I come back to the national team.”

Defining his situation at Liverpool and the terrible luck he clearly feels he’s been on the end of, the forward said: “The ball doesn’t want to go in.”

Being away with Uruguay presents a chance to reset: “To forget a little about what’s happening there, and besides, there’s nothing more beautiful for a player than wearing your country’s jersey.”

Hopefully for Darwin Núñez, he can return to Liverpool refreshed.