Amar Dedic's Injury Controversy: Bosnia Coach Barbarez Responds
Newcastle’s handling of Amar Dedic’s injury has come under fire from Bosnia and Herzegovina boss Sergej Barbarez, who believes the defender should never have been risked against Leeds United.
The right-back had settled quickly at St James’ Park and looked an early-season success story. That momentum has been abruptly cut short. A hamstring problem first flared up in the Carabao Cup tie against Millwall earlier this month, but Newcastle’s medical team were optimistic enough to clear him for the following Premier League clash.
That call is now being heavily questioned.
Dedic started against Leeds but lasted just 58 minutes of Newcastle’s defeat before signalling he could not continue. For Barbarez, that was the turning point – not just for the player’s club form, but for his international window.
At a press conference in Sarajevo, the Bosnia head coach did not sugar-coat his frustration. He argued the damage was avoidable, insisting Dedic should have been given time to fully recover from the initial strain picked up in the Millwall game. Instead, the second setback has ruled him out of a key Nations League block.
Barbarez explained that the hamstring problem suffered in the Leeds match was “greater than before”, a significant worsening of the original issue. In his view, rest would have meant Dedic lining up for Bosnia this month rather than sitting out matches against Poland, Romania, and Sweden.
“I would like to say a few technical things regarding the extent of Amar Dedic’s injury. He renewed his injury against Leeds, the extent of the injury is greater than before. If he had rested that game, he would certainly be with us now, but such things happen. He will be absent for three or four weeks. He will not be ready for these four games,” Barbarez said.
One blow quickly became two.
Alongside Dedic’s absence, Bosnia have lost Kenan Busuladzic for almost an entire year. The young midfielder has torn his cruciate ligaments, a brutal diagnosis that wipes out his international prospects for the foreseeable future and leaves Barbarez without another promising option in the middle of the park.
“We also miss Kenan Busuladzic. He will not be in the game for nine months because he tore his cruciate ligaments,” the coach confirmed, laying bare the scale of the setback.
With injuries biting hard, Barbarez has moved quickly to reshape his squad for a packed Nations League schedule. Four fresh faces have been drafted into the senior setup: Benjamin Tahirovic, Ajdin Hasic, Arjan Malic, and Luka Duric.
Duric’s call-up stands out. The forward has been making steady progress in the German second tier with Paderborn, a rise that has not gone unnoticed in Sarajevo. Barbarez underlined that this is the moment to test him at international level and assess whether he can become a longer-term piece of the puzzle.
“We handed out several invitations, we invited Benjamin Tahirovic, Ajdin Hasic, Arjan Malic and Luka Duric from Paderborn. He made a step forward in his career, he plays in the Bundesliga. Although the start of the season was not the most important thing, we want to see him in action so that he can be part of our team,” Barbarez said, pointing to the need for fresh energy rather than short-term panic.
Not every medical update was grim.
Kerim Alajbegovic, the Juventus talent who caused a scare when he was withdrawn at half-time against Atalanta, has been cleared for duty. Initial fears of another serious issue were eased after conversations with Juventus’ medical staff and the player himself.
“We spoke with Alajbegovic last night. He is slightly injured, he felt pain in his hip. Juventus doctors examined him last night and he is on his way to Sarajevo. He may take a break for a day or two, but it shouldn’t be anything special,” Barbarez said, sounding far more relaxed than in his assessment of Dedic’s situation.
So Bosnia head into this window without a key full-back and a highly rated midfielder, but with new blood eager to seize an opening. For Dedic, the question now lingers: when he returns in three or four weeks, will club and country take fewer risks with a player they can scarcely afford to lose again?
