AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Donny van de Beek has been recalled to the Netherlands squad, after recovering from injury, for this month’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Belarus, crowning a week in which he scored for Ajax Amsterdam in their Champions League success in Spain.
Van de Beek missed last month’s away wins over Germany and Estonia in Group C because of a hamstring tear but was named on Friday in Ronald Koeman’s 23-man selection.
He played a prominent role for Ajax as they beat Valencia 3-0 away on Wednesday to go top of their Champions League group.His return has led to the exclusion of Russia-based Tonny Vilhena while injured fellow midfielder Davy Propper of Brighton & Hove Albion is not replaced.
Koeman also called up Marco Bizot of AZ Alkmaar, who kept a clean sheet against Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday, to replaced the injured Jeroen Zoet.
The Netherlands host Northern Ireland next Thursday in Rotterdam and play away against Belarus in Minsk three days later.
The Dutch sit in third place in the group, three points behind Germany and Northern Ireland, who have both played one match more.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Marco Bizot (AZ Alkmaar), Jasper Cillessen (Valencia), Kenneth Vermeer (Feyenoord)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Bournemouth), Daley Blind (Ajax Amsterdam), Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Denzel Dumfries (PSV Eindhoven), Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Joel Veltman (Ajax Amsterdam)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Kevin Strootman (Olympique Marseille), Donny van de Beek (Ajax Amsterdam), Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool).
Forwards: Ryan Babel (Galatasaray), Steven Berghuis (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Steven Bergwijn (PSV Eindhoven), Luuk de Jong (Sevilla), Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyonnais), Donyell Malen (PSV Eindhoven), Quincy Promes (Ajax Amsterdam).
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson in Johannesburg; Editing by Clare Fallon)