Nations League injury blow as Cody Gakpo and Nico Schlotterbeck withdraw from squads

The UEFA Nations League has dealt a severe double blow to domestic clubs as stars Nico Schlotterbeck and Cody Gakpo have both been forced to withdraw from international duty. Schlotterbeck picked up an injury during Germany's final training session ahead of their clash with Serbia, while Gakpo has returned to Liverpool for treatment on an ankle issue.

Gakpo's absence dealt an immediate blow to the Netherlands, who struggled to a 2-2 draw against Greece.

Cody Gakpo suffers ankle injury as Netherlands slip up against Greece

Cody Gakpo has officially left the Netherlands camp to return to Liverpool for treatment on his ankle injury. The forward's absence immediately left a massive void, leaving the Dutch attack toothless as they were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Greece.

Gakpo's injury leaves Liverpool facing a selection headache ahead of a gruelling run of fixtures in both the Premier League and Europe. Jurgen Klopp has lost a highly versatile attacking option, forcing him to place the goalscoring burden on the shoulders of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

Nico Schlotterbeck withdraws from Germany squad ahead of Serbia clash

Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck picked up an injury during Germany's final training session. This unexpected setback forced him to leave the national team camp immediately and withdraw from the squad to face Serbia.

Without Schlotterbeck, Germany lose a high-quality defensive option. This blow will also be felt keenly by his club side Borussia Dortmund, where he has established himself as an indispensable figure at the heart of their Bundesliga defence.

Author's View

The latest international break has once again proved to be a nightmare for Europe's elite clubs. Losing key figures like Cody Gakpo and Nico Schlotterbeck has immediately left both their national teams and domestic clubs in a precarious position.

Now, the coaching staff at Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund face a major selection headache as the season enters a relentless phase. How these two clubs navigate this challenging period with key attacking and defensive assets on the treatment table remains to be seen.