SK Sturm Graz midfielder Otar Kiteishvili is facing another extended absence after suffering a calf injury while playing for the Georgia national team in a UEFA Nations League fixture against Hungary, as first reported by Kleine Zeitung. The 30-year-old playmaker was forced to exit the match in the 50th minute after his calf flared up once again.
Calf Injury Strikes During International Duty
The latest setback occurred during Georgia’s international assignment against Hungary, where Kiteishvili earned a spot in the starting lineup but lasted only 50 minutes before signaling to the bench. noted that prior to the Hungary fixture, Kiteishvili had also started against Ukraine—where he played until the 73rd minute—and made a 77th-minute substitute appearance against Northern Ireland. Editorial staff at Kleine Zeitung observed that national team selectors appeared to manage his fitness less cautiously than his club side had upon his recent return from a lengthy layoff.
Sturm Graz Faces Gruelling Schedule Without Key Playmaker
Coaching staff at Graz-Messendorf received the news during a Monday training session, casting a shadow over preparations ahead of a dense fixture list leading up to the winter break. reported that club officials are visibly frustrated given the player’s importance to the squad’s overall quality. Prior to joining his national team, Sturm Graz manager Fabio Ingolitsch had deployed Kiteishvili sparingly to carefully rebuild his match fitness. His domestic minutes included brief appearances: 13 minutes in a 4–1 cup victory over Voitsberg, 29 minutes in a 2–1 win against LASK, and 24 minutes in a 3–0 defeat to Red Bull Salzburg, according to Kleine Zeitung.
MRI Scan Determines Length of Georgia International Injury
Club medical staff are scheduled to evaluate the extent of the damage using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. noted that if initial concerns are confirmed by the diagnostic imaging, the Georgia international will be sidelined for several weeks, potentially missing all remaining fixtures in the current calendar year. added that the multiple-time Bundesliga player of the season has struggled to maintain consistent availability for Sturm Graz throughout the ongoing campaign due to recurring physical setbacks.
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