Xherdan Shaqiri snubs Switzerland call-up in bid to win his way into Liverpool team
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XHERDAN SHAQIRI will not feature for Switzerland next month after rejecting a call-up.
The 27-year-old is desperate to win his place back in the Liverpool team.
And the Swiss national team confirmed Shaqiri's absence when announcing their squad on Friday.
The same afternoon, coach Klopp praised the player's attitude, telling reporters: "Shaq is training well, that's the situation.
"It's the first four weeks of the season, that's how it is. That's probably the hardest period for players who are not [playing].
"In training, Shaq doesn’t have to improve in any way if he can keep the level he is doing at the moment.
"Of course he can improve like how everybody can improve, but it's not about that – he doesn't have to show anything special.
"We will need him, he knows that 100 per cent."
Shaqiri started just 11 Premier League matches in 2018/19 following a surprise £13.5million from relegated Stoke ahead of the campaign.
In all competitions, he made 30 appearances and contributed five assists with six goals - including a memorable brace to help beat Manchester United in December.
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Switzerland face a crucial Euro 2020 qualifying trip to Republic of Ireland on Thursday night before a match with Gibraltar three days later.
Having only played twice in Group D so far, they sit third with four points.
Premier League duo Fabian Schar and Granit Xhaka have made the cut for the qualifiers.