Mbappe, Musiala, Brobbey and Semenyo among injury casualties as international break bites

The international break has already delivered an unwelcome blow to several clubs, with a number of high-profile players withdrawing from national-team duty after picking up injuries.

Among those affected are players with African roots, including France captain Kylian Mbappe, Germany midfielder Jamal Musiala, Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey and Ghana attacker Antoine Semenyo.

Mbappe, who has Algerian and Cameroonian heritage, has withdrawn from France duty with a left knee injury. The Real Madrid forward is among the biggest names on the growing list of players whose fitness will be closely monitored before club football resumes.

Musiala, who is of Nigerian descent through his mother, has also left Germany’s camp with a thigh injury. His absence is another concern for Bayern Munich, who will hope the midfielder can recover before the Bundesliga returns.

Brobbey, whose family has Ghanaian roots, has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad after suffering a hamstring injury. The Sunderland forward will now use the international window to recover ahead of the return of domestic football.

Ghana have also been hit by an injury concern involving Semenyo. The Manchester City forward withdrew from the Black Stars squad after suffering an injury that requires further assessment.

Clubs left sweating over player fitness

International breaks traditionally create uncertainty for clubs because they have little control over how their players are used while away with their national teams.

That concern has resurfaced just days into the current window, with several players already ruled out of international duty.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz has withdrawn from Germany’s squad with a muscle problem described as a hamstring strain. His absence leaves Arsenal waiting for further information on the severity of the injury and his potential return date.

Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko has also withdrawn from Slovenia duty, although the nature of his injury has not been revealed.

For clubs, the concern extends beyond the players already confirmed to have withdrawn. With the international period still running, further injuries could emerge before football returns to the domestic calendar.

England suffer five withdrawals

England have also experienced a significant number of withdrawals, with five players leaving the squad and James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White brought in as replacements.

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer withdrew because of a minor injury, while Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice pulled out after carrying a hamstring issue into the season.

Manchester United were affected by two withdrawals. Marcus Rashford left the England squad with a hip problem, while Kobbie Mainoo was withdrawn after being assessed following Manchester United’s game against Fulham, in which he came off early.

Newcastle defender Tino Livramento also withdrew after suffering a knee injury.

The number of withdrawals has highlighted the physical demands placed on players during an increasingly congested football calendar.

Three-week window increases injury concerns

The current international period is longer than the traditional September or October break after FIFA revised its calendar by combining the two windows into one extended three-week period.

International teams will remain in action until October 6, meaning clubs must wait even longer before regaining control of their players.

The extended period also creates more opportunities for injuries to occur, particularly for players involved in multiple matches and training sessions during the window.

Clubs will therefore be monitoring national-team reports closely as they wait to establish which players will return fit and available.

Domestic football is scheduled to resume shortly after the international window closes.

The Premier League returns on Saturday, October 10, with Matchweek 6, while La Liga and the Bundesliga are scheduled to resume a day earlier on October 9.

Until then, clubs will be hoping their remaining international players avoid further injuries and return ready for the demanding period ahead.