Sweden and Denmark have been hit by injuries to central midfielders ahead of their two-legged play-off for a place in next year’s European Championship.

Dane Pione Sisto left the team’s headquarters at Elsinore, 50 kilometres north of Copenhagen, yesterday having failed to recover from a groin injury.

The Swedish FA announced that CSKA Moscow enforcer Pontus Wernbloom would also miss the play-off due to a thigh injury.

The Swedes also have concerns over Kim Kallstrom (stomach bug) and Malmo’s Oscar Lewicki, who suffered a concussion when he was knocked out in his side’s Champions League group game against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Denmark’s Leon Andreasen was ruled out on Sunday after cutting himself while opening a parcel and Swedish midfielder Albin Ekdahl suffered a foot injury in October that will sideline him for several months.

The first leg of the Scandinavian battle for a place at Euro 2016 takes place at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Saturday with the return at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen three days later.

Euro 2016 play-offs

First legs

Thursday
Norway vs Hungary - 19.45

Friday
Bosnia vs Ireland - 19.45

Saturday
Ukraine vs Slovenia - 17.00
Sweden vs Denmark - 19.45

Second legs

Sunday
Hungary vs Norway - 19.45

Monday
Ireland vs Bosnia - 19.45

Tuesday
Denmark vs Sweden - 20.45
Slovenia vs Ukraine - 20.45