Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany suffers yet another injury setback as he pulls out of Belgium friendly after completing warm-up
- Vincent Kompany pulled out of Belgium game moments before kick-off
- Manchester City star completed the warm-up alongside his team-mates
- But Kompany did not emerge for kick-off minutes later
- Belgium defender has completed just one game this season
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany suffered another setback in an injury-hit season as he was replaced in the Belgium side just moments before kick off of their friendly against Holland.
Kompany completed the warm-up alongside his Belgian team-mates, but when they re-emerged for the game he did not.
While there was no official comment about any injury, the centre-back was replaced in the line-up at the very last minute by Watford's Christian Kabasele, and Kompany later revealed that after feeling a tweak in the warm-up he decided not to play as a precaution.
Vincent Kompany pulled out of Belgium's friendly against Holland on Wednesday night
Kompany (pictured training on Tuesday) has suffered yet another injury setback
The Manchester City star completed the warm-up, but was not fit to kick off against Holland
Manager Roberto Martinez confirmed that it was only a precaution.
'There is no injury to Vincent Kompany,' Martinez said in his press conference.
'We did not want to take any risks with him and Kompany did not feel well after the warm-up.
'I want every player to be 100 per cent. I would be surprised if he can play Sunday, but it is still too early to say.
'We will have to assess the situation, especially with his club. If he is not ready, I will take another defender.'
He will stay with the squad and be further assessed but unlikely to be risked in the World Cup qualifier against Estonia.
It is a further blow to Kompany who has managed to complete just one game this season, an EFL Cup fixture back in September, before being ruled out with a groin strain.
The City star had looked to be back to fitness last month, and lasted 78 minutes in his club's draw with Southampton, but was then replaced at half time in the following fixture against Manchester United, and has not made an appearance in any of City's subsequent three games.
But Martinez had hinted before Wednesday night's game that Kompany was ready to return for his country, and selected him in the starting line-up for the friendly in Amsterdam.
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez had said he believed Kompany was getting back to fitness
Kompany has not played a minute of football in the Champions League so far this season
Martinez had admitted that while the 30-year-old would not be able to play 90 minutes twice in the international break he was confident of some game time.
But his pre-match withdrawal will once again raise questions over the long-term fitness of Kompany, who missed Euro 2016 this summer and was able to play just 14 times in the Premier League last season.
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