Justin Bijlow will make his official return under the bar for Feyenoord on Saturday in the Eredivisie match against Vitesse. Trainer Arne Slot also has to make do without Gernot Trauner and Luka Ivanusec.
Bijlow was unavailable for two months due to a wrist injury. He made his unofficial return on Wednesday in a practice match against Excelsior (0-0).
“He is very happy that he is fit again,” Slot said at the press conference before the match against Vitesse on Friday. “He looks fresh and is looking forward to playing goalkeeping again. Although I hope he won’t have much to do tomorrow.”
Slot cannot rely on Ivanusec (ankle injury) and Trauner, who is overloaded after previous knee problems. “It is not that he has suffered a serious injury, but he did not cope well with the peak loads.”
“We actually wanted to give him a moment of rest during the week in which the Classic had to be caught up. We have to reduce the load a bit and hope to have him available again soon.”
Finally proud of Hartman
The match against Vitesse is the first official match after the international break. Feyenoord player Quilindschy Hartman impressed with the Dutch national team on his debut in the match against France (1-2).
“It is great and wonderful that a player can manage to leave the same impression in your first international match as you did at your club in the weeks before. We have all seen that he left a very good impression, especially against France,” said Slot.
“I also had the impression that the media and analysts thought he had done well, so that is an extra reason to be happy. But all the internationals of the Dutch national team came back with a smile, because they had a very important match against Greece won.”
Feyenoord will play Vitesse in De Kuip on Saturday at 9 p.m. The national champion is fourth in the Eredivisie with twenty points after eight rounds. Vitesse is currently eleventh, with seven points.
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Oct 11, 2023 at 4:16 PM
Feyenoord goalkeeper Bijlow makes a comeback in a goalless practice match with Excelsior
