Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk and Newcastle United’s Sven Botman could be set to miss out on a place in the Netherlands squad for the World Cup.
That’s according to Voetbal Primeur, who believe the duo could be left sat at home if their prediction for Louis van Gaal’s squad comes true.
They’re looking at how the Dutch coach may make up his 26-man squad for the tournament in the coming weeks, with options limited and some set to miss out.
They explain that there is ‘plenty of choice’ in terms of defenders, with the Jurrien Timber, Nathan Ake and Virgil van Dijk forming the ‘basic trio’.
Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan de Vrij are ‘excellent alternatives’ to those so that leaves finding a backup for Ake.
Struijk, who has been in good form for Leeds this season and Botman, who has been equally impressive for Newcastle and recently earned glowing praise from manager Eddie Howe as a result, would be two of the options.
There is a belief they could ‘jump into the gap’ comfortably if need be but Voetbal Primeur say there is a ‘more likely’ plan in Van Gaal’s mind.
They think that the Netherlands coach will instead not call up a stand-in for Ake and instead trust that job to Manchester United’s Tyrell Malacia, who did that job in the Nations League clash with Belgium.
Daley Blind and De Ligt could also play in that position, meaning there is no real need for him to call up the Leeds or Newcastle defender for the tournament.
That would be a big blow for the Premier League duo, who will have felt their performances had given them a chance but may end up missing out due their country’s ridiculous strength in depth at the back.
