The Premier League returns this weekend after an unusually long international break, but several managers will be welcoming back their players with more concern than relief. What was supposed to be a three-week window for national-team football has left Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bournemouth and Sunderland dealing with injuries at precisely the moment the domestic season is about to resume.
The new international calendar combined September and October fixtures into a single extended period, allowing national teams to play four matches instead of the usual two. For players already balancing Premier League football, European competitions and a summer World Cup, it meant another demanding sequence of games with little room for recovery. And for their clubs, the consequences are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Liverpool Could Face Manchester City Without Isak and Gakpo
Liverpool have one of the biggest fixtures of the weekend, hosting Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, October 11. But Andoni Iraola is facing uncertainty over two of his attacking options after Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo both returned early from international duty.
Isak suffered a minor thigh problem while representing Sweden and was sent back to Liverpool for assessment on September 27. Gakpo followed a day later after injuring his ankle during the Netherlands' victory over Serbia, a match in which he lasted just 17 minutes before being substituted.
Liverpool have confirmed both withdrawals, but their availability against City remains uncertain. Jérémy Jacquet has also been dealing with a reported hamstring issue following his involvement with France, potentially leaving Iraola with concerns at both ends of the pitch.
The timing could hardly be worse. Liverpool are preparing for one of their most demanding domestic fixtures of the season, and losing two attacking players would significantly reduce the manager's options before a match that could shape the early Premier League title race.
Arsenal's International Break Has Turned Into an Injury List
Mikel Arteta signed a new Arsenal contract until 2030 this week, but the celebrations have been accompanied by an increasingly familiar problem: injuries to players returning from their national teams.
Kai Havertz suffered another setback while representing Germany against the Netherlands, adding to the fitness problems that have repeatedly interrupted his Arsenal career. Christos Tzolis also picked up a hamstring injury with Greece, while defender Ezri Konsa returned from England duty after experiencing discomfort during the international window.
Arsenal had 17 players called up for international football, making them particularly exposed to the demands of the extended schedule. There were further concerns when teenage prospect Max Dowman was forced off after a heavy challenge while playing for England's Under-19s, although his problem was initially described as minor.
Not every incident developed into a serious injury. Martin Ødegaard underwent checks after taking a heavy challenge while representing Norway but subsequently returned to international action, offering Arteta some reassurance.
Arsenal host Leeds United on Saturday, and the immediate challenge is to establish which players can safely return to the starting lineup. For the defending Premier League champions, the international break has created problems that could affect several positions before the domestic campaign has even reached its sixth round.
Bournemouth Are Furious Over Alex Scott's England Injury
Perhaps the most controversial case involves Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, who could miss several weeks after aggravating a thigh problem while playing for England.
Scott had already been receiving treatment before England's 7-0 victory over Croatia but was selected to start and played 70 minutes. He impressed during the match, earning praise from Thomas Tuchel, yet subsequent examinations revealed a quadriceps injury serious enough to rule him out of further international action.
Bournemouth are understood to be unhappy with how the situation was handled, particularly because the England medical staff were aware of the player's discomfort before the game. Tuchel has rejected suggestions that his staff took unnecessary risks, insisting that the information available to them indicated Scott was fit to play.
The disagreement highlights a recurring problem between clubs and national teams. England benefited from an impressive performance by a player trying to establish himself internationally, but Bournemouth must now manage the consequences during a congested run of Premier League and European fixtures.
For a club still searching for its first league victory of the season, losing an important midfielder is far more than an inconvenience. Scott's injury could force Marco Rose to change his plans for several upcoming matches, including Saturday's trip to Chelsea.
Manchester United and Tottenham Have Problems of Their Own
Manchester United's return to domestic football has also been complicated by injuries involving several international players. Patrick Dorgu suffered a suspected hamstring problem while playing for Denmark, while Noussair Mazraoui picked up a knock representing Morocco.
There are also concerns surrounding Bruno Fernandes, who has been managing a physical problem while playing for Portugal. National-team coach Jorge Jesus acknowledged that the midfielder had played through discomfort, although that does not necessarily mean he will miss United's next fixture.
United face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday, and the visitors are not arriving without problems either. Pedro Porro missed Spain's international matches and is not expected to return in time, while Jan Paul van Hecke has been dealing with a foot injury.
Tottenham did receive more encouraging news concerning Micky van de Ven, whose hand problem was not considered serious. Nevertheless, both clubs are approaching an important league fixture with fitness concerns at a time when neither can afford many more setbacks.
Sunderland and Bournemouth Could Pay the Heaviest Price
While injuries to Liverpool and Arsenal stars attract the most attention, the consequences may be even more damaging for clubs with smaller squads.
Sunderland have lost striker Brian Brobbey and defender Dan Ballard to injuries suffered while representing the Netherlands and Northern Ireland respectively. Brobbey sustained a muscle problem, while Ballard's hamstring injury has raised concerns about a potentially longer absence.
Losing important players in two different areas of the pitch presents a considerable challenge for a club that does not have the same depth as the Premier League's wealthiest teams. Bournemouth face a similar problem with Scott, whose absence comes during a period when the club must balance domestic football with European and cup commitments.
The impact of international injuries is therefore not distributed equally. A Champions League contender may be able to rotate expensive alternatives into its starting lineup, but clubs fighting for points further down the table often have fewer ways to compensate.
Four Matches in 11 Days: Is Football Asking Too Much?
The latest injuries have revived a familiar debate about the demands placed on elite footballers. Wales manager Craig Bellamy acknowledged the intensity of playing four international matches in 11 days, while Norway coach Ståle Solbakken pointed to the difficulties faced by players involved in European club competitions who have enjoyed little time off.
Arsenal's Declan Rice provides an illustration of the wider workload problem. He played 69 matches and accumulated 5,394 minutes during the 2025–26 season, before being left out of England's latest squad for load-management reasons. Cole Palmer was also absent from the international window, with fitness and workload considerations surrounding his situation.
Even Erling Haaland's substitution during Norway's match against Portugal prompted concern before Solbakken explained that the decision had been planned to manage the striker's workload. It was a reminder that not every early substitution means another injury, but also that managers are increasingly having to calculate how much football their players can tolerate.
Outside England, the same pattern has affected some of Europe's biggest clubs. Bayern Munich have lost Jamal Musiala to a thigh muscle injury, while Real Madrid have been monitoring Kylian Mbappé after the French forward suffered a knee problem during the international window.
None of these individual injuries proves that the revised international calendar is directly responsible. Footballers can suffer muscle strains, knocks and contact injuries under any schedule, and some of the affected players were already carrying physical problems before joining their national teams.
But the scale of the disruption has made the question impossible to ignore. Clubs are investing enormous sums in their squads, national teams are trying to maximise limited preparation time, and the same players are expected to perform at full intensity for both.
When the Premier League resumes this weekend, managers will once again be judged by results. Yet some of their most important decisions may already have been shaped by events that took place hundreds or thousands of miles away from their training grounds.
Published by Patrick Jane
08.10.2026