Aston Villa’s Ian Maatsen and Sunderland’s Lutsharel Geertruida are on the Netherlands’ standby list over fears regarding Arsenal star Jurrien Timber.
NU report that the Aston Villa and Sunderland defenders will be on a standby list until Tuesday while Ronald Koeman waits to see if Timber can go to the World Cup.
Arsenal defender coming back
They report that while the Arsenal defender remains on the road back from months of injury woes, Koeman does not want to take any risks.
The right-back has been included in the 26-man squad for the World Cup, even though he played his last match in March. He has not trained with Arsenal for some time either.
Koeman has until Tuesday to make changes to his selection. He’s waiting until the last minute before making a decision on the Arsenal defender.
“He was supposed to train with the group for the first time today. (That’s to) see if he can make it to the Champions League final. That remains to be seen,” he said in Wednesday’s press conference.
Aston Villa and Sunderland on standby
Arsenal play in the Champions League final on Saturday. Timber had been a regular this season but has been out with an ankle injury since March. He is also now recovering from a hip injury.
Koeman is waiting to see if he features in the final before his final decision. And that leaves the Aston Villa and Sunderland men on standby for their own World Cup hopes.
Geertruida was a part of the Netherlands squad in the last international break, having been a regular for Sunderland this season. Maatsen, meanwhile, has played a mostly substitute rule under Unai Emery at Aston Villa this season.
Who Koeman chooses if Timber is unavailable, remains to be seen. For now, it appears that he’s hedging his bets. He’s leaving the Aston Villa and Sunderland defenders on standby while he hopes the Arsenal man gets fit.