Bruno Fernandes, Cody Gakpo and Patrick Dorgu have all joined the international break’s high-profile injury list after suffering issues that have curtailed their involvement in Nations League matches.
After playing in Portugal’s win over Wales on Thursday, Manchester United captain Fernandes was not in the squad for Sunday’s fixture against Norway.
Prior to the match boss Jorge Jesus revealed, external Fernandes had “played through the pain” against Wales and “wasn’t his usual self”.
“He played with an injury he brought from Manchester United,” he said. “He really wanted to play against Wales.”
Meanwhile, both Fernandes’ United team-mate Dorgu and Liverpool striker Gakpo suffered injuries during games for their respective countries on Sunday.
Gakpo had to go off just 16 minutes into the Netherlands’ 2-1 win against Serbia, grimacing and holding the lower part of his right leg.
He has started the season well for Liverpool with two goals and four assists in six appearances across all competitions.
Dorgu, meanwhile, lasted 30 minutes before he limped off in Denmark’s 2-0 win against Wales.
The first international break of the 2026-27 men’s football season is lasting a week longer than it usually does, with the traditional October break now scrapped.
There is now a three-week gap for international fixtures across late September and early October, where countries will play four international matches instead of two.
BBC
