Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek is not included in Louis van Gaal’s 39-man provisional Netherlands World Cup squad.
The playmaker is currently nursing an injury that has kept him out for almost six weeks having played just 19 minutes of football this season. He is yet to enjoy the revival many had hoped for with Erik ten Hag after dismal spells under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
His out-of-favour status has led to a 19-month absence from the Netherlands senior squad, having made his last appearance in March 2021. Van de Beek was left out of the Euro 2020 squad for last year’s delayed competition and has now been handed another major tournament blow.
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It marks a sad decline for the 25-year-old, who was a regular for his country following his form under Ten Hag at Ajax in the 2018/19 season. United teammate Tyrell Malacia has made the cut as has Reds target Frenkie de Jong.
Former players Memphis Depay and Daley Blind make the list while Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake of Manchester City and Newcastle defender Sven Botman are included.
United-linked Cody Gakpo, Denzel Dumfries and Jeremie Frimpong have been named alongside former target Jurrien Timber, who Van Gaal warned might not make the final squad if he moved to Old Trafford and suffered reduced game time.
Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt and Ryan Gravenberch, Pascal Struijk of Leeds and Ajax attacker Steven Bergwijn are other big names to be listed.
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