Brentford star Mark Flekken has again admitted his first season in the Premier League with the Bees was anything but easy but believes it may have helped his Netherlands chances.
The goalkeeper has been speaking to L1 Nieuws about his season and his hopes of being in the Netherlands’ squad for Euro 2024 this summer.
Flekken has been battling with Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen to claim the number one spot in the Netherlands squad for the last 18 months, with Ronald Koeman yet to make a real decision on that front.
Both players head into the summer after a first year in the Premier League following moves to Brentford and Brighton last summer.
Many believed Brentford had pulled off another coup in securing Flekken in a relatively low-cost deal, but he struggled early on with the pace of the Premier League, something he’s openly admitted to.
The second half of the season proved to be more comfortable for him and he believes that should give him his chance with the Netherlands.
“I feel good, physically I’m doing great,” he said.
“You never have certainty (about international selection). But I have also become calmer. I like to stay sober. But I do feel good about being included.
“Especially mentally, it was a tiring season. Before the turn of the year, I was searching. But with the good feeling of the second half of the season, we ‘just keep going’ here.”
