Czechia marksman Schick emerges as injury doubt for World Cup playoff with Ireand

DOUBT: Czech forward Patrik Schick (left) could miss the World Cup playoff with Ireland after picking up a muscle injury. Pic: Liselotte Sabroe/Getty

Czechia are sweating over the availability of top striker Patrik Schick for their upcoming World Cup playoff semi-final against Ireland.

The 30-year-old, who has scored 24 goals in 50 internationals, was ruled out of Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga win over Hamburg on Wednesday.

A muscle injury was cited for his absence from a game that would have marked his 200th Bundesliga appearance.

Manager Kasper Hjulmand seemed uncertain about the forward’s recovery timeline.

"We don't know yet how he is doing,” he said. “The next two days will show.” Up next for Leverkusen is Sunday’s league game against Freiburg before they host Arsenal in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday.

Schick has become the primary striker for Czechia since he exploded onto the scene with both goals in the delayed Euro 2020 win over Scotland.

His 49-yard screamer at Hampden Park won the goal of the tournament.

After moving from Sparta Prague in 2016, he played for Sampdoria and Roma in Italy.

RB Leipzig signed him on loan in 2020 before he later that year joined their German rivals Leverkusen. They are currently sixth in the table.

New Czechia boss Miroslav Koubek is already missing striker Adam Hložk, while Lyon playmaker Pavel Šulc remains a serious doubt.

They welcome Ireland to the Fortuna Stadium in Prague on March 26, playing for a shootout against either Denmark or North Macedonia for a place at this summer’s World Cup.