Newcastle’s Amar Dedic Injury Raises Concerns
Newcastle’s handling of Amar Dedic’s fitness has come under fire after the Bosnia and Herzegovina defender was ruled out of international duty with a serious hamstring injury.
The full-back had made an eye-catching start at St James’ Park, quickly settling into life on Tyneside. Then came the first warning sign: a problem in the Carabao Cup tie against Millwall earlier this month. What looked like a manageable issue has now spiralled into a lay-off that will keep him out of a key international window.
Barbarez points the finger
Newcastle’s medical team were initially optimistic. Dedic was passed fit to start the Premier League clash with Leeds United. That call now sits at the heart of the row.
The defender lasted just 58 minutes of the defeat at Elland Road before signalling he could not continue. For Bosnia head coach Sergej Barbarez, that moment changed everything.
Speaking in Sarajevo, Barbarez did not hide his anger at how the situation unfolded. He argued the setback could have been avoided had Dedic been given time to fully recover from the Millwall strain, instead of being rushed back into league action.
The damage suffered against Leeds, he explained, went beyond the original issue. The hamstring problem, once a strain, had escalated into something more serious, robbing him of a key starter for Nations League matches against Poland, Romania, and Sweden.
“I would like to say a few technical things regarding the extent of Amar Dedic’s injury. He renewed his injury against Leeds, the extent of the injury is greater than before. If he had rested that game, he would certainly be with us now, but such things happen. He will be absent for three or four weeks. He will not be ready for these four games,” Barbarez said.
For Bosnia, that is not just a frustration. It is a major tactical reshuffle forced on the eve of a demanding run.
Busuladzic blow deepens injury woes
Dedic’s absence is damaging. The news on Kenan Busuladzic is devastating.
Barbarez confirmed the young midfielder has torn his cruciate ligaments, ruling him out for around nine months. A player earmarked as part of Bosnia’s next generation now faces a long, lonely road back.
“We also miss Kenan Busuladzic. He will not be in the game for nine months because he tore his cruciate ligaments,” Barbarez revealed, laying bare the scale of the setback.
Two significant pieces of his plan gone in one window. The margin for error in selection has disappeared.
New faces step into the gap
The response has been swift. With injuries biting hard, Barbarez has turned to fresh blood to keep Bosnia competitive during a packed Nations League schedule.
Benjamin Tahirovic, Ajdin Hasic, Arjan Malic, and Luka Duric have all been called into the senior squad. Each arrives with a different story, but it is Duric who draws the extra spotlight.
The forward has been making quiet but important strides in Germany with Paderborn, adjusting to the demands of the 2. Bundesliga and pushing his way into the conversation for a full international role.
“We handed out several invitations, we invited Benjamin Tahirovic, Ajdin Hasic, Arjan Malic and Luka Duric from Paderborn. He made a step forward in his career, he plays in the Bundesliga. Although the start of the season was not the most important thing, we want to see him in action so that he can be part of our team,” Barbarez explained.
This is not a luxury experiment. It is a stress test of Bosnia’s depth under real pressure.
Alajbegovic scare eases
Amid the bad news, one update offered some relief.
Kerim Alajbegovic, the Juventus talent who has been attracting growing attention, sparked alarm when he was taken off at half-time in a recent match against Atalanta. For a squad already stretched, the prospect of another key youngster joining the injury list was a genuine concern.
Those fears have eased after conversations with Juventus’ medical staff and the player himself.
“We spoke with Alajbegovic last night. He is slightly injured, he felt pain in his hip. Juventus doctors examined him last night and he is on his way to Sarajevo. He may take a break for a day or two, but it shouldn’t be anything special,” Barbarez said.
A scare, not a crisis. For once, the diagnosis brought some calm.
A test of judgement on and off the pitch
As Bosnia head into a crucial Nations League window, Barbarez must reshape his plans without Dedic and Busuladzic, leaning on new faces and hoping Alajbegovic comes through unscathed.
Back in England, questions linger over Newcastle’s decision-making and the choice to start Dedic against Leeds so soon after his first setback. For club and country, the same issue hangs in the air: in a season this demanding, who pays the price when the gamble on a player’s fitness goes wrong?
