Fernandes, Gakpo and Dorgu added to international break injury list

The first international break of the 2026-27 men's season is turning into a headache for clubs across Europe. Bruno Fernandes, Cody Gakpo and Patrick Dorgu all picked up issues over the weekend that have disrupted their involvement in the Nations League. Their setbacks come during an extended window in which national teams are cramming four matches into three weeks.

• Bruno Fernandes played through pain against Wales and was left out of the squad to face Norway.
• Cody Gakpo came off after 17 minutes of the Netherlands' win over Serbia with an ankle problem.
• Patrick Dorgu limped off 30 minutes into Denmark's victory against Wales.
• Alexander Isak withdrew from Sweden duty with a minor thigh injury.
• Kylian Mbappé is out for at least two weeks after hurting his knee with France.

Bruno Fernandes carrying Manchester United knock misses Norway clash

The Manchester United captain featured in Portugal's win over Wales on Thursday, but his involvement came at a price. Before the Norway game, head coach Jorge Jesus admitted the midfielder had not been at full fitness and had played through discomfort in the opening fixture of the window.

He played with an injury he picked up at Manchester United. He was determined to be involved against Wales, but he wasn't his usual self.

Fernandes was ultimately left out of the squad for the Sunday match, and his recovery now falls to United's medical staff. The key question is whether the issue that has been limiting him in recent days will rule him out once the Premier League resumes.

Gakpo leaves the pitch after 17 minutes in Anfield worry

Cody Gakpo set alarm bells ringing at Liverpool just 17 minutes into the Netherlands' clash with Serbia. The forward went down in visible pain and clutched the lower part of his right leg before being replaced immediately.

After the match, Xavi Hernández confirmed the issue is in Gakpo's ankle and said the player will undergo a scan on Monday to determine the severity. The Dutchman had started the season well for his club, with two goals and four assists in six appearances across all competitions. An extended absence would be a real blow to Liverpool's attacking options.

Dorgu becomes Manchester United's second injury worry this window

Manchester United are being hit from two fronts during this international break. Patrick Dorgu, a team-mate of Fernandes at Old Trafford, managed just 30 minutes before limping off in Denmark's 2-0 win over Wales. The Danish camp has yet to issue a detailed medical update on the full-back.

His setback adds to the concern already surrounding Fernandes, leaving United's coaching staff waiting on two medical reports in the coming days. With domestic action resuming soon, every absence matters.

Isak, Havertz, Brobbey and Ballard add to Premier League injury list

Liverpool are not the only club monitoring an injured striker. Alexander Isak has left Sweden's camp with a minor thigh problem. The forward played the full 90 minutes and scored in Friday's win over Romania, but he will miss his country's three remaining matches and return to England for assessment by his club's medical team.

Thursday's draw between Germany and the Netherlands left two more casualties. Kai Havertz was caught on the knee by a high boot from Quinten Timber in Amsterdam and had to be substituted. Brian Brobbey, meanwhile, appeared to suffer a muscle injury shortly after his hat-trick in Sunderland's 5-3 league defeat to Manchester City.

Sunderland's miserable break continued when Dan Ballard picked up a hamstring injury late in Northern Ireland's 1-0 win over Georgia. Michael O'Neill has confirmed the defender will play no further part in this international window.

Mbappé and Musiala headline concerns beyond the Premier League

The injury wave is not limited to English clubs. Kylian Mbappé will be out for at least two weeks after hurting his knee while scoring the winner in Zinedine Zidane's first game in charge of France. The Real Madrid striker netted a record-extending 67th international goal from Michael Olise's pass to beat Turkey, but he was limping immediately and had to be replaced five minutes later.

Jamal Musiala has also been ruled out of the international window. The Bayern Munich midfielder felt a muscle issue during the warm-up for the match against the Netherlands and had to withdraw before kick-off. His case, still being assessed, is another concern for the Bundesliga champions.

A longer international window increases the injury risk

This is the first break of the 2026-27 men's season, and it comes with a unusual twist: it runs a week longer than normal. The traditional October pause has been removed from the calendar, creating a three-week block for international fixtures across late September and early October. Teams now play four matches instead of two.

The expanded format piles extra minutes onto already congested legs, and the risk of injury rises with it. The growing list of casualties in just a few days has reignited the debate over fixture congestion and the physical toll elite players face during every FIFA window.