Paul Wanner injury: PSV midfielder returns to Eindhoven for tests after Austria foot blow

PSV have been dealt another international-break blow after midfielder Paul Wanner left the Austria camp and returned to Eindhoven with a foot injury, the club has confirmed.

How the injury happened

Wanner started Austria's Nations League clash with Kosovo on Sunday, having made a strong impression in his previous caps, but he went down with a foot problem in the second half and was forced off. The 20-year-old has now withdrawn from the remainder of the international window and will play no further part in Austria's programme.

PSV announced that their medical specialists will further assess the midfielder in the Netherlands, with no timeline offered until those examinations are complete. It remains unclear whether he will be fit in time for the resumption of the Eredivisie, when the reigning champions face sc Heerenveen after the break.

A growing list in Eindhoven

Wanner is the second PSV starter to return early from international duty during this window, after defender Lutsharel Geertruida left the Netherlands camp with an injury of his own. The Champions' treatment room was already well populated before the break: Alassane Pléa, Jerdy Schouten, Kiliann Sildillia, Sam Lammers and Sami Ouaissa were all sidelined, with PSV hoping at least the last two can rejoin the group once domestic football resumes.

Wanner had been in fine form for club and country, delivering an assist in each of Austria's wins over Israel and Kosovo before the injury. His creativity from midfield has been central to PSV's start to the season.

What it means for PSV

If the tests confirm a meaningful absence, PSV have a ready-made replacement in Noah Fernandez, the usual option to deputise in Wanner's role, though the drop-off in output is a genuine concern for a side defending their Eredivisie title.

For now, the priority is a clean diagnosis. Foot injuries can range from bruising that settles in days to bone damage that costs weeks, and PSV's medical staff will want certainty before mapping his route back to a starting berth.

An update from the club is expected once the assessment in Eindhoven is complete, with supporters hoping the midfielder's withdrawal is precautionary rather than the start of a longer absence.