Man Utd goalkeeper forced to withdraw from international squad due to injury

Martin Dubravka has been forced to return to Manchester United following an injury the goalkeeper picked up on international duty.

The summer signing, who joined on loan from Newcastle United on deadline day, was on international duty with Slovakia when he picked up a knock and will now not be involved in the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Azerbaijan and Belarus.

United released an update on their website and said: “As a precautionary measure, Dubravka has withdrawn from the squad and will have his problem assessed at Carrington.”

The 33-year-old is yet to play for the Red Devils since his move to Manchester, with David de Gea starting in each of the club’s Europa League matches to date.

Dubravka missed the final game before the international break with a knock, and is now a doubt for the club’s next match, which comes against Manchester City on 2 October.

Should the injury prove to be a more long-term issue, United also can call upon the services of Tom Heaton, while Nathan Bishop and Radek Vitek are options from the Under-23 side.

United also have Dean Henderson and Matej Kovar on their books, although both goalkeepers are on loan at present.

Dubravka played 130 times for Newcastle during a four-and-a-half year stint in the North-East. He was, up until this season, first-choice stopper for the Magpies, but lost his starting spot following the summer signing of Nick Pope from Burnley.

The injury comes as Dubravka also faces competition for his place on the international stage, with Fulham’s Marek Rodak rivalling him for a place in the starting XI.