The break for Euro 2016 fixtures and friendlies has been costly for a string of top clubs, with a number of key players set to miss domestic action through injury
While club football resumes this weekend following the international break, some players will be left cooling their heels a little longer after picking up injuries while on duty with their national teams.
The sight of a star player being helped from the field never goes down well with club bosses, but there is understandably a little extra frustration when it happens away from the bread and butter of domestic football.
Among the latest to be hit by the international injury curse are Borussia Dortmund. Jurgen Klopp’s men have been relieved of the services of Marco Reus for the next four weeks due to an ankle injury sustained during injury time of Germany’s 2-1 European Championship win over Scotland on Sunday.
It means that the attacking midfielder will miss key Champions League clashes against Arsenal and Anderlecht as well as some important Bundesliga fixtures.
In light of Reus’ setback, BVB will be hoping that Ciro Immobile’s injury is not serious. The striker was stretchered off in the latter stages of Italy’s 2-0 win in Norway on Tuesday, but the early signs from the Azzurri camp suggest he will recover quickly.
“Immobile suffered a trauma to the hip and at first it had completely blocked, but after a few minutes he was already doing much better,” Italy team doctor Enrico Castelaaci told Rai.
Another injury of note to fans of the Italian game is that sustained by Arturo Vidal. After coming through the clash with Mexico unharmed, he sat out of Chile’s 1-0 win over Haiti as a perceived precaution over his long-standing knee trouble. However, Juventus have confirmed that the midfielder complained of hamstring pain.
“Vidal returned from international duty reporting muscular discomfort at the back of his right thigh,” said a Juventus statement. “He sat out training on Tuesday and will undergo tests on Wednesday to assess his availability for the Bianconeri’s upcoming fixtures.”
Arsenal and Chelsea will also be fretting over the fitness of players too, with Aaron Ramsey and Diego Costa both having been injured on national duty. Ramsey could miss Saturday’s huge lunchtime fixture against Manchester City in the Premier League after twisting his right ankle in injury time of Wales’ 2-1 win in Andorra.
Costa, meanwhile, felt discomfort in his left hamstring during Spain’s 1-0 loss to France and skipped the Roja’s 5-1 win over Macedonia as a result. Chelsea are now monitoring his fitness, but the striker is thought to be a doubt for Saturday’s clash with Swansea and next week’s Champions League opener against Schalke.
Daniel Sturridge was forced to pull out of England’s squad for the win over Switzerland after picking up a thigh injury against Norway, and the striker could miss Liverpool’s league fixture with Aston Villa as a result. The player himself has moved to quell fears of a lengthy lay-off though, telling Instagram followers: “Be back soon” after returning to Melwood.