England handed major boost for Nations League clash with Greece as star striker hobbles off in ‘eternal enemies’ derby
GREECE star Fotis Ioannidis could miss the Nations League clash with England after hobbling off with an injury during a crunch derby.
The Three Lions return to action on Thursday when they host the Greek national team at Wembley after winning their first two matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
However, Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic may be without his top scorer Ioannidisi, 24, who netted three goals in his country’s first two matches against Finland and Ireland.
The striker started for Panathinaikos against Olympiacos on Sunday’s derby of the “eternal enemies” at Athens’ Olympic Stadium.
The centre-forward, though, sustained an injury one minute before half-time and hobbled off the pitch.
Panathinaikos manager Diego Alonso immediately replaced him with Andraz Sporar.
Initial reports suggest the Greece international suffered an adductor injury during the derby.
Further reports claim Panathinaikos physios diagnosed Ioannidis with a fractured adductor.
The ex-Levadiakos star is expected to get an MRI as early as Monday.
If Ioannidis’ injury is as currently reported then he will be sidelined for the next few weeks.
Thus, the forward may miss the crucial Nations League clashes against England in London and Ireland in Athens on October 13.
This comes after the Three Lions’ captain Harry Kane also limped off during Bayern Munich’s 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt.
England interim manager Lee Carsley will have to wait on updates regarding Kane’s fitness.
This comes after Carsley received two injury scares with Aston Villa ace Ezri Konsa and Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbas-White also hobbling off against Manchester United and Chelsea respectively.