Nico Williams has been forced to withdraw from the Spain squad for their upcoming Nations League games.
A Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) statement said the 22-year-old felt some “physical discomfort” during training camp and has subsequently been replaced by former Manchester City full-back, Sergio Gomez.
Athletic Bilbao said the winger will now return to the club in order to continue his recovery before their next La Liga fixture against Espanyol on October 19.
Williams made his international debut in 2022 and has scored four goals in 22 appearances for his country since then. The versatile attacker scored the opener in Spain’s 2-1 win over England in the final of the European Championship in July.
Spain host Denmark in Murcia on Saturday before playing host to Serbia in Cordoba three days later.
Other high-profile absentees from head coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad include Atletico Madrid central defender Robin Le Normand, who suffered a traumatic brain injury following a collision of heads during the Madrid derby. Tests revealed the 27-year-old defender had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with subdural haematoma.
Porto striker Samu Omorodion was not included despite scoring seven goals in six games, including two against Manchester United in the Europa League last week.
Spain captain and AC Milan striker Alvaro Morata is also back in the squad, as are Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena and Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winning goal in the Euro 2024 final against England.
Premier League duo Mikel Merino and Pedro Porro were recalled after missing Spain’s Nations League outings against Serbia and Switzerland in September.
(Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
