Bruno Fernandes, Gakpo and Dorgu Join Growing Injury List During International Break

Bruno Fernandes, Cody Gakpo and Patrick Dorgu have all become the latest names to join a growing injury list during this international break, with each picking up problems that have limited their involvement in Nations League matches.

Fernandes played in Portugal's win over Wales on Thursday, but was left out of the squad entirely for Sunday's game against Norway. Ahead of that match, head coach Jorge Jesus revealed that the Manchester United captain had played through pain against Wales and wasn't at his best.

"He played with an injury he brought from Manchester United," Jesus said. "He really wanted to play against Wales."

Fernandes' United teammate Dorgu and Liverpool forward Gakpo both then picked up injuries of their own during Sunday's matches. Gakpo was forced off just 17 minutes into the Netherlands' 2-1 win over Serbia, clearly in discomfort and holding his lower right leg. He had started the season well for Liverpool, with two goals and four assists in six appearances so far this campaign. Netherlands boss Xavi Hernandez confirmed Gakpo will undergo a scan on Monday.

"It's his ankle, that's all I know," Xavi said. "Tomorrow we will know, but hopefully it's not too important."

Dorgu, meanwhile, lasted just 30 minutes before limping off during Denmark's 2-0 win over Wales.

This first international break of the 2026-27 season is running a week longer than usual, with the traditional October break scrapped in favour of a three week window across late September and early October, during which countries are playing four matches instead of the usual two.

Gakpo's injury adds to a difficult break for Liverpool, who also saw Alexander Isak withdraw from Sweden duty with a minor thigh problem. Isak had played the full 90 minutes and scored in Sweden's 2-1 win over Romania on Friday, but will now sit out the remainder of Sweden's fixtures in this window while being assessed by Liverpool's medical staff.

There have been other injury concerns elsewhere too. On Thursday, Arsenal's Kai Havertz and Sunderland's Brian Brobbey were both forced off during the same match as Germany drew with the Netherlands. Havertz was caught on the knee by a high boot from Quinten Timber in Amsterdam and had to be substituted, while Brobbey, fresh off a hat trick in Sunderland's 5-3 Premier League defeat to Manchester City, appeared to pick up a muscle injury.

Sunderland were dealt a further blow during the break when Dan Ballard suffered a hamstring injury late in Northern Ireland's 1-0 win over Georgia on Friday. Manager Michael O'Neill confirmed Ballard will now miss the rest of Northern Ireland's fixtures during this window.

It isn't only Premier League clubs feeling the effects either. Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out for at least two weeks after injuring his knee while scoring the winning goal in Zinedine Zidane's first match in charge of France. Mbappe scored a record extending 67th international goal, finishing off a pass from Michael Olise to beat Turkey, but was limping almost immediately and was substituted five minutes later.

Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala also had to withdraw from Germany's squad after suffering a muscle injury during the warm up for the game against the Netherlands.