Sead Kolasinac pulls out of Bosnia squad on Arsenal order – as Bernd Leno gets late Germany call
Kolasinac has only just returned from injury and Gunners want to ensure defender is not pushed too hard while he builds up fitness
SEAD KOLASINAC has pulled out of the Bosnia squad for the international break - seemingly at the request of Arsenal.
Defender Kolasinac has only just returned to the first team squad at the Emirates having missed the opening two months of the season through injury.
The 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in pre-season which has taken longer than expected to recover from.
And Arsenal are still trying to manage his rehabilitation programme despite him making his first appearance of the season in the Europa League win in Qarabag last week.
Even so, Bosnia decided to call up Kolasinac for their Nations League clash with Turkey tomorrow and the match against Turkey next week.
But according to in his home country, Arsenal wrote to the Bosnian FA asking if he could be excused from the international double header to help manage his fitness.
Having missed the entire pre-season fitness programme, the Gunners are believed to have been concerned that playing two matches back to back could lead to him suffering muscle injuries.
And the national team have agreed to that request - meaning Kolasinac is now returning to London to continue his personal programme building up his sharpness and overall fitness levels.
But while the defender is making his way back to the UK, another Arsenal star is jetting off to link up with his national team after a late call-up.
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno has been drafted into the Germany squad for their Nations League double-header by coach Joachim Low.
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Leno had been left out of the squads for the away matches against Holland and France when Low initially named his group.
But an injury in training to Eintracht Frankfurt stopper Kevin Trapp has forced Low to turn to the Arsenal star as back-up.
The 26-year-old has travelled out to Germany to link up with the squad, although it is unlikely he will get any game time in the matches.
Leno has been forced to bide his time for first team chances since his £19.3million move to Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
But an injury to Petr Cech has given him his opportunity, and Leno is now likely to start matches over the next month while the veteran recovers.