Gakpo one of five immediately sent home from Dutch squad after illness outbreak

23 March 2023 , 09:43

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Liverpool's Cody Gakpo and Newcastle's Sven Botman are two of the players sent home (Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo is one of five players sent home from the Netherlands squad after an illness outbreak ahead of the start of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

The Dutch FA have confirmed that Gakpo has been released from the squad ahead of the matches against France on Friday and Gibraltar on Monday, with Newcastle defender Sven Botman also sent home with the illness.

Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman are the other players removed from the squad.

Dutch coach Ronald Koeman has called up three players to replace those who have left, with Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij and goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, who is on loan from Brighton at Vitesse Arnhem, the players who have come into the squad, initially just for the France game..

A statement from the Dutch FA read: "Gravenberch and Scherpen, who are on a training camp in Spain with the Dutch Juniors, will join the group in Paris.

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"De Vrij also joins the selection in Paris, which then consists of 23 players. After the match against France, the composition of the selection will be reviewed."

The illness had initially been reported as a virus, but later suggestions claimed that it was food poisoning from a chicken curry which had been served to the camp.

The loss of Gakpo, who scored three goals at the World Cup in Qatar, is likely to be the most keenly felt by the Dutch ahead of the clash with France in Paris.

After joining Liverpool in January, the 23-year-old forward has scored four goals in 14 appearances, including a brace in the 7-0 win over Manchester United.

Botman had been celebrating his first senior international call-up (AFP via Getty Images)

The 23-year-old is viewed as the long-term replacement for the outgoing Roberto Firmino at Anfield, with the Brazilian departing at the end of the season after eight trophy-laden years with the Reds.

Newcastle's Botman meanwhile had been celebrating his first senior international call-up and was in the frame to partner captain Virgil van Dijk in defence after his impressive displays for the Magpies.

The former Lille defender has been a hit on Tyneside ever since joining the club in the summer, and has been tipped to eventually usurp Van Dijk as the Netherlands' first chpice centre-back and potentially captain his country.

Mark Jones