When Ipswich Town travels to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, they might be without one of their key players.
Club managers have spent over a week crossing their fingers that their players return from the international break uninjured, and Tractor Boys manager Kieran McKenna is contemplating a potential setback to his preparations.
Ipswich has started winger Wes Burns in each of its Championship games thus far this season, continuing the form that propelled the Suffolk team out of League One and into the second tier.
The 28-year-old, however, is now appearing unlikely to be able to travel to South Yorkshire due to an injury sustained while representing Wales at an international level.
Burns was scheduled to be in the team for the European Championships qualifier against Latvia on Monday night and participated in his nation’s friendly match against the Republic of Korea last week in Cardiff. The ex-Bristol City player was forced to return to his club for treatment, though, after suffering a hamstring injury.
Rob Page, the manager of Wales, stated: “I believe it was too hazardous to bring him because we have a duty of care to the player and the club as well. Sending him back is best because he tore his hamstring.
Ipswich has only lost one of their five league games this season, and they are now second in the Championship heading into their matchup with Wednesday.