Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch was without Junior Firpo for eight league games this season and that saw the American field Pascal Struijk on the left side of the defence.
The 23-year-old has starred for the Whites, so much so that Louis van Gaal included him in the Netherlands provisional squad for last month’s international break.
Struijk can play for either Oranje or Belgium at international level. After making it to the provisional squad in September, he has decided to represent the Netherlands. The player confirmed this during an interview with Voetbalzone.
His preferred position is in the heart of defence. This is where Struijk has featured the most for Leeds, while he has also been used as a left-back and a defensive midfielder on a few occasions.
When discussing the conversation he had with Netherlands squad coordinator Fernando Arrabal, the versatile player made a confession about playing in midfield.
“I just found out through the official list. Normally you are not called personally. I’ve also never spoken to Van Gaal before; I only spoke to the coordinator. He informed me and spoke to me to ask a few questions: how I am doing, if I am fit and a little bit about the situation with Belgium,” Marsch’s man told Voetbalzone.
“They did not specify what position they had in mind for me. I think they just determined where I would fit best based on videos.
“Lately I always play as a left back, but before that always as a left central defender. I also played as a defensive midfielder for a while, but to be honest that is not the ideal position for me.”
