Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been forced to withdraw from the Croatia squad due to an Achilles injury.

The 25-year-old has suffered an inflamed Achilles tendon in his right leg and has been replaced by Mijo Caktas.

Kovacic played 83 minutes of Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Sheffield United on Saturday before he was replaced by Michy Batshuayi.

Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been forced to withdraw from the Croatia squad

Croatia face Slovakia and Azerbaijan this week as they bid to strengthen their bid to reach next year's European Championship.

The World Cup runners-up are third in Group E behind leaders Hungary and Slovakia.

They have taken six points from their first three games of qualifying so far.