Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has urged Chile not to play an injured Alexis Sanchez against Uruguay next week.
It was thought the forward, who has shone for Arsenal in the main striker role this season, had suffered a calf issue but Wenger has revealed that the 27-year-old has in fact injured his hamstring.
"I got a text last night (to say) that he has a hamstring injury," Wenger told beIN Sports.
"The team from Chile has travelled without him and they kept him to try and get him fit to play Uruguay for the second game on Tuesday night.
"I believe that with a hamstring injury, we have to get access for our medical staff to the MRI scan to see what grade it is, how bad it is and make absolutely sure that they do not make any suicidal decision that could harm his future for two or three months.
"That is absolutely important. It's a grey area between the national team and the club team and of course they look at their own results, which I can understand but we have to preserve the health of Alexis Sanchez.
"He always wants to play and that's where it is a more sensitive case because he's always ready to play even when injured."