Borussia Dortmund left striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of their squad to face Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday due to "internal reasons."
Aubameyang was expected to start the Champions League tie but was missing from the 18-man squad named.
Both coach Thomas Tuchel and chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke confirmed the player had been dropped but insisted he would be back with the squad on Thursday.
"We totally accept there will be speculation.But internal means internal." Tuchel said on Sky.
No reason was given for his late omission from the team but he is reported to be at the Westfalenstadion.