Firmino Earns Call Up for Brazil World Cup Qualifiers

Last week Liverpool fans were equal parts disappointed and relieved upon learning that an on fire Roberto Firmino hadn't been called up to the Brazilian national squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. Disappointed that manager Dunga could possibly over look TLO's player of the month for both January and February, but relieved that it meant one less player potentially returning from international duty with a knock or worse.

But a thigh injury sustained by Firmino's compatriot Kaka while training with Orlando City SC meant that Dunga needed to make a quick decision about who to take the midfielder's place when Brazil takes on both Uruguay and Paraguay at the end of the month, and his eye naturally turned to Liverpool's star man.

#Eliminatórias: Firmino é convocado no lugar de Kaká, lesionado >>> https://t.co/ScdVVpxS7d pic.twitter.com/5jfOxvsvci

— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) March 6, 2016

Firmino joins fellow Red Philippe Coutinho on the plane bound for Brazil after Liverpool visit Southampton, returning just before the club host title contenders Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Liverpool will need both at full strength for both matches, so if Dunga could limit their playing time to an amount respectable for a national team player but not so high that it greatly increases the possibility of injury, it would be much appreciated.