The Netherlands have announced that Cody Gakpo is one of five players to leave their international training camp due to a virus infection, with the Liverpool winger expected to return to England.
Holland confirmed on the official Twitter account that the former PSV star has left the squad along with Sven Botman, Matthijs de Ligt, Joey Veerman and Bart Verbruggen, with a virus seemingly causing havoc in Ronald Koeman’s first camp back as Netherlands boss.
🚨 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩.
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) March 23, 2023
😕 Sven Botman, Cody Gakpo, Matthijs de Ligt, Joey Veerman & Bart Verbruggen left our training camp this morning. They are suffering from a virus infection. Get well soon, boys. 🧡
ℹ️ https://t.co/rl3bdGKlWT pic.twitter.com/gOTOFCQj8U
The 23-year-old has been one of Holland’s best players in recent months with the winger one of the stars of the show out in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, yet Koeman will now be without Gakpo for their huge Euro 2024 qualifier against France, with the Dutch then facing Gibraltar on Monday.
Liverpool will be hoping for speedy Gakpo recovery after Netherlands blow
Gakpo has been one of Liverpool’s best players in recent weeks, yet the Reds will no doubt be sweating on this latest update coming from the Netherlands, with Jurgen Klopp hoping that the winger will be fit in time for the Premier League’s return next month.
With just league football to worry about, a top-four finish will save Liverpool’s season having crashed out of Europe and the FA Cup this year, and having Gakpo fully fit will be instrumental in the Reds beating out the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle United to a UEFA Champions League spot.
Indeed, the international break could have done Gakpo more good than harm in keeping the attacker’s confidence levels up after a decent run of form before these fixtures against France and Gibraltar, yet Liverpool will now have to hope that their new star winger recovers in time for their huge clash against Manchester City on April 1st.