Tadic plans to play with broken nose: 'Serbia people are not soft'

Dusan Tadic has stated his intention to take on Liverpool next Saturday despite breaking his nose.

The Southampton winger suffered the injury after a high boot from Wales' Neil Taylor during Serbia's 1-1 draw in Cardiff on Saturday, but valiantly played on with cotton wool stuffed up his snout despite the lasting damage it caused.

"I think I have broken my nose," Tadic told the Guardian's Stuart James. "At first I thought I could not see so many things but I couldn't leave my teammates alone on the pitch and I wanted to play and this is important. Every player feels really important for the team. You cannot leave teammates without you.

"I couldn't breathe or do anything and I lost a lot of blood. I see a little bit also not so good. But that does not matter as when you play a game you want to fight for your country to try to give your best."

Tadic wasn't drawn into chastising referee Alberto Mallenco for not cautioning the Swansea City left-back for kicking him in the nose, and is hoping to return to the pitch as soon as Tuesday, when the Eagles face Ukraine in a friendly.

"Serbia people are not soft," he said, before looking forward to next week's visit from Liverpool. "We will see. I can wear a mask."

The draw in Wales means Serbia is two points adrift of Group D leader Ireland in World Cup qualifying, while the Dragons are four points short of their neighbour over the Irish Sea.