Virgil van Dijk Pulls Out of Netherlands Camp With Lingering Injury
Virgil van Dijk has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for the November international camp.
Virgil van Dijk has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for the November international camp. The Liverpool captain has reportedly been playing through the problem for the best part of a month.
The reports describe a niggle rather than a confirmed diagnosis. No timeline for his return has been given.
A knock that was flagged earlier
Van Dijk had already spoken publicly about a "little knock" that put his availability for Liverpool's game against LASK in doubt. The latest withdrawal suggests the issue has not cleared.
The defender has 96 caps for the Netherlands. In September he called it a "massive decision" to continue his international career under new head coach Xavi, after Ronald Koeman resigned in June following the Dutch exit to Morocco in the World Cup last 32.
Iraola's international-break worries
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has seen this before. Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai all came back from the extended fall international window carrying knocks earlier this season.
When concerns arose about Szoboszlai again this month, Iraola said: "The last thing we need now is to lose players in the international games." He admitted he would be "praying" for a clean bill of health.
Van Dijk's withdrawal means he is spared the travel and match load of the national team camp, though the nature of the problem has not been detailed.
Bob Paisley, the club's late former manager, once summed up the position managers find themselves in: "You keep your fingers crossed about injuries. That is in the lap of the gods."
