Kai Havertz is facing a spell on the sidelines after Germany were held to a 1-1 draw by the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday night, with the Arsenal striker substituted after just 30 minutes and sent for an MRI scan in the aftermath of the Nations League opener.
Havertz was named in the starting XI by Jurgen Klopp for what was the former Liverpool manager's first fixture leading die Mannschaft. The 27-year-old's evening was cut short when Quinten Timber — brother of his Arsenal teammate Jurrien — caught him with a raised foot to the knee. Havertz received treatment on the pitch before being replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib, who made his international debut in the process, and went straight down the tunnel.
Despite the contact being to his knee, journalist Ryan Taylor revealed it is believed Havertz has suffered a left hamstring problem. The striker has a history of hamstring trouble, having required surgery after picking one up during a warm-weather camp in Dubai last year, and also sustained a serious knee injury during the previous campaign.
Klopp has already indicated he does not expect Havertz to be available when Germany face Greece on Sunday night in Augsburg. Jamal Musiala, who felt a muscle problem during the warm-up and was a late withdrawal from the starting side, is also unlikely to feature, with Klopp naming Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Burkardt as potential call-ups.
"Both are currently undergoing an MRI," Klopp said on RTL. "I hope we get the diagnosis [on Thursday] evening. But of course, this isn't great. I hope it's nothing serious. The lads are probably out for us. But hopefully, they'll be back in action relatively quickly."
Felix Nmecha had given Germany the lead in the 32nd minute, though his goal arrived amid controversy. Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey went down injured during the build-up, with the Dutch appealing for play to be stopped. Germany pressed on, scored, and a heated confrontation broke out between the two sets of players. Brobbey, who had scored a hat-trick against Manchester City last Sunday, was subsequently also forced off with a hamstring problem.
Klopp looked set to take three points from his debut until Cody Gakpo levelled with a flying volley at the far post deep into added time, securing a point for the Netherlands under their own new head coach, Xavi.
The timing of Havertz's injury is a concern for Arsenal. He had started all five of the club's Premier League matches so far this season and scored three times in seven appearances across all competitions. Arsenal host Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium on 10 October when the Premier League resumes following the break.
Havertz was only selected for two of Germany's four fixtures this international window, with Klopp having divided his 44-man squad into two groups. The remaining half of the squad will face Serbia before a second meeting with Greece closes out the window on 4 October — games Havertz had already been scheduled to sit out.
Reporting: Football.London, Mirror, GiveMeSport, ESPN, Evening Standard, talkSPORT, Daily Mail, Metro, The Sun.