Only days after Jürgen Klopp selected the RB Leipzig winger for his first senior Germany squad, Gruda has been ruled out of the upcoming international break with an abdominal injury. The 22-year-old suffered a strain to the lateral abdominal muscles during the Red Bulls' 2-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday and will not join up with the national team.

It is an unfortunate interruption to what had been an encouraging period for Gruda. Klopp's decision to include him in his experimental 44-man selection had offered the Leipzig attacker a long-awaited opportunity to step into the senior international setup after progressing through Germany's youth teams.

Gruda had been assigned to Klopp's second group, which was due to face Serbia on October 1 and Greece on October 4. He was expected to travel to Herzogenaurach as part of a wider assessment process, with Klopp using the unusually large squad to look at players who had not yet established themselves at international level.

Instead, Gruda will spend the international break recovering in Leipzig.

The injury occurred midway through the first half in Leverkusen. Gruda was taken off in the 26th minute after experiencing discomfort around the right side of his abdomen and hip. Immediately after the match, Leipzig coach Martín Demichelis suggested that Gruda had taken a blow to the hip and was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. Further examination has now confirmed the abdominal muscle strain.

The setback does not appear to be regarded as a long-term injury. Die Roten Bullen have said that Gruda will need to take things easier during the international break, while reports indicate that a return following the break remains possible.

That will be the immediate focus for both player and club. For Gruda, however, the disappointment is difficult to separate from the timing.

His Germany call-up had represented another step forward after an interrupted path to the senior team. The 22-year-old had already represented Germany extensively at youth level, including 20 appearances for the Under-21s, but had yet to make the transition to the senior side. Klopp's selection appeared to offer him the chance to finally make that move.

There will also be no replacement called up for Gruda.

The DFB has confirmed that Klopp will continue with the squad already selected, meaning the Leipzig attacker will have to wait for another opportunity to make his senior debut.

For the club, the hope is that the injury proves little more than a brief interruption. Gruda's Germany opportunity may have disappeared for now, but the call-up itself remains a reflection of the progress that earned Klopp's attention in the first place.

The debut is postponed, not abandoned.