Amar Dedić's Injury Controversy: Bosnia Coach Criticizes Newcastle

Newcastle’s handling of Amar Dedić’s injury has come under fire from Bosnia and Herzegovina boss Sergej Barbarez, who believes the defender should never have played in the Premier League defeat to Leeds United.

Dedić, who had started brightly at St James’ Park, first felt his hamstring during a Carabao Cup tie against Millwall earlier this month. Newcastle’s medical team were optimistic. The problem looked manageable, the recovery path straightforward.

Then came Leeds.

Picked again despite that earlier scare, Dedić lasted just 58 minutes before limping off in a match Newcastle went on to lose. For Barbarez, that decision has had consequences far beyond one league fixture.

Barbarez points the finger

Speaking in Sarajevo, the Bosnia and Herzegovina head coach did not bother to soften his words. He argued that the setback was avoidable, that rest after the Millwall game would likely have kept Dedić available for this international window.

“I would like to say a few technical things regarding the extent of Amar Dedić’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.

The damage sustained against Leeds, he explained, is significantly worse than the original strain from the cup tie. For Bosnia, it means a key defender is missing for a crucial Nations League block featuring Poland, Romania, and Sweden. For Dedić, it halts the momentum of a promising start in England.

Another hammer blow: Busuladzić out long term

If Dedić’s absence hurts, the news on Kenan Busuladzić is brutal.

The young midfielder has suffered a serious knee injury, tearing his cruciate ligaments and facing a recovery period stretching to around nine months. Any hope of a quick return has vanished.

“We also miss Kenan Busuladzić. He will not be in the game for nine months because he tore his cruciate ligaments,” Barbarez confirmed.

Two important pieces of his squad, gone. One for weeks, one for almost a year. The tone of the camp has changed in an instant.

New faces drafted in

Barbarez has moved quickly to reshape his group, calling up four players to plug the gaps and inject fresh energy into the squad during this condensed Nations League window.

Benjamin Tahirović, Ajdin Hasić, Arjan Malić, and Luka Durić have all been promoted to the senior setup. Durić’s inclusion stands out. The Paderborn player has been progressing in Germany’s second tier and, in Barbarez’s eyes, is ready for a closer look.

“We handed out several invitations, we invited Benjamin Tahirović, Ajdin Hasić, Arjan Malić and Luka Durić 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,” the coach explained.

This is not a long-term rebuild, but it is a test. New blood, under pressure, in meaningful games.

Alajbegović scare eases

Amid the setbacks, one piece of news brought some relief.

Kerim Alajbegović, the Juventus prospect, caused alarm when he was taken off at half-time in a recent match against Atalanta. With injuries already mounting, Bosnia could hardly afford another blow to a key young midfielder.

After talks with Juventus’ medical staff and the player himself, Barbarez was able to cool the panic.

“We spoke with Alajbegović 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,” he said.

So Alajbegović will join up, even if he needs a brief pause at the start of camp.

For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the picture is clear: a defensive leader sidelined, a rising midfielder lost for most of the season, and a coach openly questioning a Premier League club’s risk management. The Nations League window will reveal whether this patched-up squad can withstand that kind of turbulence – and whether Dedić’s absence ends up shaping more than just one international break.