Dusan Vlahovic has been ruled out of Serbia's squad for their opening UEFA Nations League fixture against Greece on September 24 at 21:45. The striker was excluded from the team after suffering an injury while playing for Turkish side Besiktas.
The exclusion resolves an ongoing selection dilemma for head coach Veljko Paunovic, who was weighing whether to start Vlahovic or Luka Jovic at the top of the attack. Both strikers had entered the international break in excellent form for their respective clubs.
Vlahovic suffered the injury during last Sunday's domestic match against Amedspor. Opposing players subjected the experienced center forward to numerous heavy tackles throughout the course of that fixture.
Medical evaluations indicate that the injury is not severe, with doctors estimating a recovery period of one week. Despite the short expected recovery timeframe, Paunovic decided to leave Vlahovic out of Serbia's first four fixtures of the tournament.
Striker Options and Tactical Formations
Vlahovic had made an impressive start to his season with Besiktas, scoring five goals in seven appearances after joining the Turkish club from Juventus during the summer transfer window.
With Vlahovic sidelined, Jovic has emerged as the clear favourite to lead Serbia's frontline. Paunovic is most likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Jovic as the focal point of the attack.
Should Paunovic opt for a two-striker 4-4-2 system instead, Jovic is expected to partner 19-year-old forward Cvetkovic. The teenager has enjoyed a strong start to the season in Belgium with Anderlecht.
Serbia and the Nations League Campaign
The match against Greece marks the opening of Serbia's campaign in the UEFA Nations League, a biennial tournament featuring European national teams. Both teams are competing to secure crucial points early in the group stage.
Serbia's coaching staff must now rely on Jovic and Cvetkovic to carry the offensive burden across the opening round of international fixtures. Vlahovic will continue his recovery process before returning to club duty with Besiktas.
