Bosnia-Herzegovina have announced that Edin Dzeko has suffered a calf injury that is expected to rule the Manchester City striker out for up to three weeks, Reuters reports.
Dzeko had to be substituted four minutes after coming off the bench during City's 2-2 draw at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, and he has now been ruled out of his national team's Euro 2016 qualifier away to Israel on Sunday following an MRI scan.
Bosnia-Herzegovina team doctor Reuf Karabeg told the federation's official website: "The injury is very serious and requires some recovery time, which unfortunately rules out the prospect of a swift return to action."
A three-week absence would see Dzeko miss Premier League matches with Swansea and Southampton this month as well as the Champions League clash at home to Bayern Munich on Nov. 25.
For now, though, Dzeko's focus is on international matters. Bosnia have taken only two points from their opening three games as they bid to make the European Championship finals in France, but the striker is hopeful they can secure a first win of the campaign.
"It is really hard for me to miss the game, especially as I was feeling confident. The injury came at the worst possible time, but I have to deal with it," he said. "I believe in the team, because I know we have the quality required to get a result in Haifa."
He added that he hoped the team and the fans would be able to celebrate a positive result "even though we are all aware that, regardless of whether I played, it will be a tough match."
Bosnia will also be without Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisevic for Sunday's match and Hajduk Split duo Avdija Vrsajevic and Tino Sven Susic are also unlikely to play.
Israel have won both their games to date, against Cyprus and Andorra, and coach Safet Susic did not share Dzeko's optimism they could secure a result.
Susic is quoted as telling the FENA news agency: "If Dzeko can't play we will be resigned to playing for a draw against Israel because we have no hope of winning without him.
"If that turns out to be the case, we will have to mount a sustained challenge after the winter break and win five of the remaining six games if we are to reach the finals in France."
Bosnia lost their opening qualifier at home to Cyprus and afterwards recorded draws with Wales and Belgium.