Magpies Under Fire: Barbarez Slams Dedic Injury Management
The raw fury of international football has collided with club responsibilities, as Bosnia and Herzegovina coach Sergej Barbarez has unequivocally pointed the finger at Newcastle United for the prolonged absence of star defender Amar Dedic.
Key Points:
- Sergej Barbarez directly criticized Newcastle United's handling of Amar Dedic's hamstring injury.
- Dedic's initial injury against Millwall was reportedly aggravated by playing against Leeds United.
- The defender is now sidelined for 3-4 weeks, missing crucial international fixtures.
- Bosnia also faces a devastating long-term blow with Kenan Busuladzic out for nine months due to an ACL injury.
- Four new players, including Luka Duric, have been called up, while Kerim Alajbegovic provides some positive injury news.
Magpies Under Fire: Barbarez Slams Dedic Injury Management
Newcastle United is facing a storm of criticism over its handling of Amar Dedic, with Sergej Barbarez not holding back. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international, who started brightly for the Magpies, has seen his promising season derailed by a recurring hamstring issue.
Barbarez believes the decision to play Dedic in the subsequent Premier League clash against Leeds United, after an initial knock in a Carabao Cup tie against Millwall, was a catastrophic misjudgment. Dedic lasted just 58 minutes against Leeds before being forced off, a move that Barbarez explicitly stated has cost the player his spot in the national squad for the current international window.
A Preventable Setback?
Speaking from Sarajevo, Barbarez's assessment was stark. He highlighted the technical nature of the setback, emphasizing that the damage sustained against Leeds United was far more severe than the initial strain.
