Dion Charles has been withdrawn from international duty with Northern Ireland following assessment by Wanderers' medical staff at the end of the season.
The Whites’ striker – top scorer in 2023/24 after another 20-goal campaign – misses friendlies against Spain and Andorra with a knee issue being managed by the club.
Charles was absent for two months between mid-February and April with the injury before returning and playing with the help of injections to help Wanderers reach the League One play-off final with three goals in four starts.
Wanderers have re-assessed his condition since the end of the campaign to ensure no on-going problems and after receiving the results pulled him out of Michael O'Neill's squad before getting together for their friendly double-header.
Charles has now begun a treatment and rehabilitation programme with the Whites to try and ensure he is fit and available for the start of the new league season.
His absence leaves Eoin Toal as the only Wanderers’ player in the Northern Ireland squad which faces Euro 2024 finalists Spain in a friendly on Saturday before playing Andorra next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Wanderers’ midfielder and player of the year Josh Sheehan won his sixth cap and captained his country for the first time as Wales drew 0-0 in a friendly with Gibraltar.
Club-mate Gethin Jones was an unused substitute for Australia as they won a World Cup qualifier in Bangladesh 2-0. The Socceroos next face Palestine in Perth on Sunday as they look to extend their 100 per cent start to their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.