Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for their upcoming European Championship qualification matches.
The Netherlands will begin their quest to qualify for Euro 2024 with a heavyweight match against France in Group B on Friday, followed by a clash against Gibraltar three days later.
Gakpo, who scored in all three of the Netherlands’ group games in Qatar, was called up to Ronald Koeman’s side for their first games since the 2022 World Cup.
However, the Dutch Football Federation has now confirmed that the 23-year-old is one of five players who have become ill, and he has withdrawn from March’s fixtures as a result.
Since making his debut against North Macedonia at Euro 2020, the former PSV Eindhoven player has six goals and two assists in 14 games for the Netherlands.
Gakpo struggled to gain ground at Liverpool, but he has scored four goals in nine Premier League games, including a brace in their 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United earlier this month.
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While the attacker will most likely heal in time for the return of domestic football, Jurgen Klopp could do without any further selection issues, especially with Darwin Nunez also withdrawing from the Uruguay camp with a knock.
To counter the effects of the virus, Koeman signed three new players: Stefan de Vrij, Kjell Scherpen, and Ryan Gravenberch. But, the Dutch manager appears to have decided against replacing Gakpo.
Liverpool are sixth in the Premier League table, seven points behind the top four and with two games in hand on Tottenham Hotspur, and their first game back after the international break will be against champions Manchester City at the Etihad on April 1.
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