Frenkie de Jong is uncertain if he will be fit in time for the European Championship, potentially dealing a significant blow to the Netherlands’ hopes in Germany later this month.
Despite being included in the squad for the tournament, where the Netherlands will face Austria, France, and Poland in Group D, coach Ronald Koeman is taking a gamble on De Jong’s fitness.
De Jong suffered three ankle injuries last season, in September, March, and April. His last injury occurred during a match for Barcelona against Real Madrid, where he had to leave the field on a stretcher.
The 27-year-old said: “I’m not fit yet, so I can’t say I’m doing well.
“The ankle is fine in itself but it just needs to recover properly because it shouldn’t become something chronic.
“I’m not doing anything with the team yet. I am doing physio and recovery training, individual training. We just have to wait and see how the ankle goes. Then we will see when I can join in.”
Pressed on whether he would be fit for the Euros, he added: “That is of course always the question. I mean: if you are not completely fit now and are not training with the group, then the question is always when and if you will make it. No one knows exactly.
“I really cannot say when. And that’s not because I don’t want to, even though I know it myself. It’s just difficult to say.”