Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen has insisted he’s not worried about Sunderland’s Robin Roefs challenging him for the Netherlands.
De Telegraaf cover comments from the Brighton man today. He remains the Netherlands’ number one but faces increased competition from the Sunderland star.
Roefs’ stock has been rising rapidly over the last few months after he joined Sunderland in the summer.
He’s been a key player in their strong start to the season so far. A series of impressive performances have been vital to the Black Cats, particularly in the games they’ve won.
It’s earned him a call-up to the Netherlands squad for this international break. He was in the group back in September but never made it off the bench. That was the case again for the 4-0 win over Malta. Brighton star Verbruggen was the starter in that game.
He’s established himself as first-choice for the Dutch over the last couple of years, initially beating competition from Mark Flekken for the position.
Now Roefs is the latest contender for the role, but the Brighton man admits he’s welcoming the Sunderland star with open arms.
“The partnership with Robin is good,” he said.
“I didn’t know him personally before he joined the Dutch national team. I knew he was doing well in the Netherlands and who he was, but other than that…
“We get along well. He’s a nice guy and a good goalkeeper, it’s always nice to work with him. With both Mark (Flekken) and Robin, you can talk about the job you love, share experiences, and learn from each other.
“I think competition always keeps everyone sharp, but ultimately, you think about yourself and how you can always improve and take the next step. That’s your focus, not necessarily what’s happening on other fields.”
