Inter Milan’s Mateo Kovacic returns to club with injury

Zagreb: Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who came off injured while playing for Croatia in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Azerbaijan, has returned to Italy for tests, a spokesperson for the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) said on Tuesday.

“Kovacic did not dare to continue to play after he felt pain in his groin,” Tomislav Pacak told AFP.

The 20-year-old Kovacic is returned to his Serie A club, where doctors will examine him to establish the cause of the pain, Pacak added.

Croatia won the match 6-0 on Monday and are second to Italy in Group H on goal difference, with both teams notching two wins from two matches.

Norway and Bulgaria are on three points apiece, while Azerbaijan and Malta are still looking for their first points.