Marc Wilmots is unwilling to take any risks with Thomas Vermaelen in Sunday's friendly against Norway as Belgium's defensive injury crisis ahead of Euro 2016 threatens to worsen.
Wilmots has already been shorn of captain Vincent Kompany, Dedryck Boyata, Bjorn Engels and, it would seem, Nicolas Lombaerts, for the upcoming tournament.
Centre-back Vermaelen, who endured another injury-plagued campaign in 2015-16, had to leave training early on Friday due to pain in his calf, and the Red Devils coach is planning on wrapping the Barcelona man up in cotton wool for the match with Norway in Brussels.
"I will not take any risks. He will not play on Sunday," Wilmots said, in quotes reported by Vavel.
Wilmots explained on Friday that Vermaelen initially picked up the problem during last Wednesday's friendly with Finland and is hopeful it is not serious, ahead of Belgium's opening European Championship match against Italy on June 13.
"Is it still possible that he could play in the Euros? We'll see in the coming days," he added.
Belgium head into Sunday's friendly on the back of a below-par performance against Finland, when they needed a late equaliser from Romelu Lukaku to snatch a 1-1 draw.
