Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva will miss the World Cup qualifier on Thursday to Ireland because of “muscle problems”, manager Fernando Santos told reporters on Wednesday.
Silva, who was in great form for his club Manchester City this season and played an important role in their Premier League derby victory against United rivals on weekends, driving training on Monday and also not on Tuesday.
“I didn’t count on it.
He has muscle complaints.
I don’t think he has the condition to go to this game.
We think he will be fine for Serbia (on Sundays),” Santos said.
“He arrived tired, complaining, he had a lot of games at him, and couldn’t go to training, but he recovered well and we hope and we believe he will be able to play here with Serbia.” The game in Dublin against Ireland is very important for Portugal, which tracks Serbian leaders at the point in Group A but has a game in hand.