Nov 11 : The return of Jeremy Doku to the Belgium squad has handed coach Mark van Bommel a luxurious drawback, he mentioned on Wednesday.
Doku, who was sick throughout the World Cup and had a subdued match, missed the opening 4 matches of the brand new Nations League marketing campaign in September and October due to damage.
The winger is now match, nonetheless, for his or her final two Group A1 fixtures in opposition to Turkey in Izmir on Thursday and Italy in Brussels on Sunday.
“I am very happy to have Jeremy again within the squad,” Van Bommel instructed a press convention.
“It actually makes choosing the beginning line-up tougher, however I feel all 5 wingers are able to taking part in on both aspect. It is a puzzle, however a pleasant drawback to have. I am unable to offer you a solution but as to who will play,” he mentioned.
Belgium, nonetheless, shall be with out report goalscorer Romelu Lukaku.
“Romelu is having some issues along with his hip. He was already feeling it yesterday. He’s nonetheless in a position to practice, however we have now mutually determined to not embody him within the line-up,” added the coach.
“He is a vital participant for us, each on and off the pitch. He is solely began one match to date, however he has already made an necessary contribution, together with instead.
“So I hope I can get him match once more in time for the match in opposition to Italy,” Van Bommel mentioned.
Belgium are third in Group A1 with six factors, behind leaders France on 10 and Italy on seven. The highest two advance to the quarter-finals in March.
France face Italy in Milan on Thursday.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape City; Modifying by Toby Davis)