Sweden have confirmed Carl Starfelt has left the national team camp because of a back injury.
The Celtic centre-back had to be stretchered off just before half time in his country’s Nations League win over Slovenia on Thursday night.
The 27-year-old, who made his first competitive start for the Swedes, was due to face a double header with Norway as well as a home clash with Serbia in the same competition over the next nine days.
But he will now go back to Scotland to be accessed, which could leave Ange Postecoglou worried about his defensive options ahead of the new season.
Speaking after the victory in Ljubljana, Starfelt admitted it wasn’t looking good but he would receive scans on the injury in the next couple of days.
He said: “I felt a stabbing pain in my back so I had to go off.
“Of course it’s not fun, especially not when you get the chance to play and you want to take your opportunity.
“But sometimes it’s like that in football, I have to see now what kind of injury it is.
“We’ll see what it is, but it does not look very bright. If I am lucky, the X-ray may not show anything and I can recover in a few days, but right now I do not see it as very likely.”
Sweden boss Janne Andersson was also disappointed with Starfelt’s injury, citing him as a key player.
He said: “It is a problematic situation. He is a very important part of the team.
“Even he does not have experience, you want a centre back you are used to.”