Alexander Isak will miss Sweden’s three remaining Nations League group-stage fixtures due to a minor injury and will return to club side Liverpool, the Swedish Football Association said.
“He’s got a small problem with his thigh. It’s not a big one but because of the amount of games we’ve got in a small space of time, he won’t be able to make those,” Swedish coach Graham Potter told reporters on Sunday.
“So not a big one, but frustrating for him, and obviously for us,” the English coach said of the injury to the 27-year-old striker, who scored in Sweden’s 2-1 win over Romania on Friday.
Sweden host Poland on Monday before facing Bosnia & Herzegovina and Romania, while Liverpool are next in action against Manchester City at Anfield on October 11.
Isak, 27, who joined Liverpool from Newcastle United last year for a fee of £125 million ($166 million), is the Premier League’s second-highest scorer this season with four goals in five matches, one behind City striker Erling Haaland.
Potter said Isak was injured during the win over Romania, with the striker opening the scoring in the 20th minute, but also picking up the knock.
“Sometimes you get bumps and bruises in the game, you might think it’s a bit of a dead leg or something, but actually as the 24 hours, 48 hours after the game, it’s not quite what you think,” Potter said.
Sweden centre back Hjalmar Ekdal, who plays for English Championship side Burnley, has also left the training camp with a minor injury.
“No replacements have been called up at this time,” Sweden said in a statement.
