Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke has received his first call-up to the Netherlands national team. This comes after Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven was ruled out of the upcoming Nations League matches against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Germany due to a knee injury.
Van de Ven, who had been training with Tottenham last week, was left out of their matchday squad for the Premier League loss to Newcastle United on Sunday. The injury appears to have occurred during Tottenham’s previous match, a 4-0 victory over Everton on August 24, when he was involved in a tackle and appeared to be in discomfort but managed to continue playing.
The Dutch football association (KNVB) confirmed that Van de Ven is not yet match fit and will be replaced by the 24-year-old Van Hecke. The Netherlands will host Bosnia & Herzegovina in Eindhoven on Saturday before facing Germany at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam three days later, as they begin their new Nations League campaign.
This presents an opportunity for Van Hecke to earn his first cap for the Dutch national team. The 24-year-old defender has been a key player for Brighton, helping them to a strong start to the Premier League season. His call-up is a testament to his impressive form and potential at the club level.
