Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been forced to withdraw from national duty with Ghana for their Africa Cup of Nations qualification double-header against Sudan.
The Black Stars captain has had an impressive start to the season, featuring in all seven of the Gunners' Premier League matches as well as their two Champions League outings.
Partey has seemingly cemented his role as a crucial part of Mikel Arteta's midfield partnership alongside Declan Rice, and he has already opened his account for the season, scoring a crucial goal in the side's 2-0 victory over Aston Villa back in August.
The 31-year-old filled in at right-back last weekend in the win against newly-promoted Southampton, but was withdrawn in the closing stages of the match after picking up a knock.
Partey withdraws from Ghana squad for AFCON qualifiers
On Monday, the Ghana Football Association released a statement saying: "Thomas is unable to join the Black stars due to medical issues he is currently experiencing, and his club has scheduled him for further tests in the coming days."
However, Arsenal journalist Charles Watts has suggested that the midfielder is believed to be ill rather than struggling with injury or a muscle problem, as originally feared.
It is understood that the 31-year-old defensive midfielder will remain in London in a bid to return to full fitness ahead of the Gunners' trip to Bournemouth on October 19.
Besides Partey, three additional players - Joseph Paintsil, Ibrahim Osman and Kingsley Schindler - have also withdrawn from the Ghana squad ahead of the upcoming pair of international matches.
Paintsil is believed to be experiencing pain in his hamstring, Ibrahim has a strained calf muscle, and Schindler's absence is due to a medical emergency for which he is currently undergoing treatment.
Injury concerns mounting for Arteta
Partey's withdrawal from international duty comes just 24 hours after the German FA announced that Kai Havertz would remain in London over the next two weeks to recover from a knee injury.
Other Gunners players who have missed out on representing their countries this month include Ben White and Jurrien Timber, both of whom also sat out the win over the Saints last weekend due to fitness issues.
Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is only expected to return from his leg injury after the international break and will not be playing for Ukraine as he focuses on regaining full fitness.
Similarly, Kieran Tierney is ruled out of Scotland duty owing to a hamstring injury he sustained during the European Championship this summer, while Takehiro Tomiyasu's absence from Japan's roster is thought to be due to his very recent return from a knee injury.
Finally, club captain Martin Odegaard will not link up with the Norway national squad due to an ankle ligament injury he sustained during the previous international break. body check tags ::
