Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has been dropped from Udinese’s squad to face Southampton on Saturday after suffering an injury setback.
The Ghana international underwent an MRI scan during the week to determine the extent of damage after complaining of pains in his back of which results are yet to be made public.
The Zebras have however decided to walk the line of caution by leaving the 21-year-old out of the team to play the English club in Saturday evening’s friendly to be played at the St. Mary's Stadium.
The defensive midfielder has been involved in all of Udinese’s pre-season activities until now.
The news will come as an obvious blow to Ghanaians as the Black Stars are set to take on China in an international friendly next week.
It is readily unknown how long Agyemang-Badu will be out for considering next month’s ultimate 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Malawi.
Udinese's squad:
Goalkeepers: Brkic, Pawlowski, Romo.
Defenders: Gabriel Silva, Armero, Basta, Benatia, Coda, Domizzi, Heurtaux, Danilo, Pereyra, Neuton.
Midfielders: Willians, Battocchio, Faraoni, Allan, Pinzi.
Forwards: Fabbrini, Di Natale, Maicosuel, Muriel, Zielinski.