Havertz limps off with hamstring concern in Klopp's Germany debut against Netherlands

Kai Havertz lasted just 30 minutes of Germany’s friendly against the Netherlands before limping off with an apparent hamstring problem, handing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta an anxious wait over the fitness of his forward.

Havertz had been selected to lead the line by Jürgen Klopp for the former Liverpool manager’s first game in charge of Germany, but his evening ended prematurely after he went down requiring treatment. Medical staff heavily taped his hamstring before he was replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib on the half-hour mark.

The injury came shortly after Havertz was caught by a heavy challenge from Crystal Palace summer signing Quinten Timber, a foul that earned the midfielder a yellow card but could arguably have drawn a red. Whether the Timber challenge contributed to the hamstring issue or whether the two incidents were unrelated remains unclear.

Arteta will be particularly concerned given that Havertz spent a significant portion of the first half of last season sidelined with a knee injury. Any recurrence of a serious muscular or joint problem would be a significant blow to Arsenal’s campaign.

Havertz was not the only Premier League-connected player to leave the field injured. Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey also pulled up with a hamstring problem and needed assistance from the team doctor to leave the pitch. The Dutch forward had arrived in the Netherlands squad in fine form, having scored a hat-trick against Manchester City in a 5-3 defeat at the Etihad Stadium just days earlier.

Brobbey’s injury occurred in the build-up to Germany’s goal, which was scored in controversial circumstances. The Netherlands had requested that play be stopped, and Klopp’s side appeared set to comply, before continuing and finding the net through Felix Nmecha.