Jose Enrique Injury: Updates on Liverpool Star's Hamstring

Liverpool FC will be without star winger Jose Enrique for six weeks due to a hamstring injury, which occurred in the Reds' 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on December 30.

The club's official Twitter page broke the news on Friday:

"

Jose Enrique out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, Rodgers confirms #LFC

— Liverpool FC(@LFC) January 4, 2013"

UPDATE: Friday, Jan. 11 at 9:25 a.m. ET by Tim Daniels

As expected, Enrique won't be available for Liverpool's match against Manchester United on Sunday, but the defender is making strides in his recovery, according to the club's official Twitter feed.

"

BR: "Jose Enrique is making progress but won't be available for this weekend. Apart from that, everyone is available."

— Liverpool FC(@LFC) January 11, 2013"

---End of update---

The Reds' official website provided an update as well, logging comments from club manager Brendan Rodgers, who expressed his dismay at Enrique's unfortunate circumstances:

"

[Enrique] has looked fantastic in the games but it looks like he'll probably be out for up to six weeks with his hamstring.

It's a shame because in the game he felt nothing. Sometimes you can enter the games and be tight and stiff. He felt great, and even within the game.

"

Clearly, adrenaline must have kicked in for Enrique to play through a torn hamstring, and it's unfortunate that the injury came in a fixture that the Reds had well in hand against the last-place QPR squad.

Liverpool sits at eighth in the English Premier League table. This injury to Enrique comes at a particularly unfortunate juncture in the season, with the club hitting its stride entering 2013. The Reds have won five of their past seven matches and have posted clean sheets in four of those victories.

More recently this season, Rodgers has had Enrique playing an attacking midfielder rather than left-back, which has been a stellar transition that's helped the Reds hold strong in their recent form (h/t The Guardian).

Rodgers' 3-5-2 formation has caused Enrique to move up and renovate his game. The unconventional changes have been gelling into place lately, but Enrique's injury may prove detrimental to that development.

Check back here for the latest on Enrique's injury situation and when, precisely, to expect him back in the Reds' lineup.