AZ midfielder Kees Smit will remain with his club in Alkmaar rather than join Jong Oranje for their upcoming European Under-21 Championship play-offs, according to VoetbalPrimeur.
The 20-year-old playmaker initially received a call-up from head coach Michael Reiziger for the qualification matches against Denmark. However, Smit told NH Sport that he has decided not to report to the squad in Zeist because he is still working back to full match fitness following a recent thigh injury.
“I am still building up,” Smit told NH Sport. “In good consultation, it was decided that I will stay at AZ. I want to be one hundred percent fit again, which I am not yet. Therefore, it is not wise to go there right now.”
Smit’s absence is a blow for Jong Oranje as they attempt to secure their spot at next summer’s tournament in Albania and Serbia. During the previous international window, the midfielder scored once and provided an assist in a 4-2 victory over Slovenia, but he subsequently missed six matches for AZ due to a thigh problem.
He made his return to action last week, appearing as a 30-minute substitute in a 2-1 UEFA Europa League defeat to Juventus before logging another half-hour off the bench in a 4-3 Eredivisie win over FC Groningen. Despite those substitute appearances, Smit feels he is not yet ready for the demands of international competition.
Domper Jong Oranje: Kees Smit ontbreekt in cruciale play-off voor EK https://t.co/Bcoi8rJ1Wi
“As a player, you can feel whether you are close to that level, and I don’t have that at the moment,” Smit told NH Sport, adding that he learned from the previous international period when he traveled despite physical concerns.
Jong Oranje travels to face Denmark on Friday in the first leg of the play-off tie, with the return leg scheduled four days later at the Yanmar Stadion in Almere. In addition to missing Smit, head coach Michael Reiziger must also cope without AZ teammate Ayoub Oufkir, after the 20-year-old winger received a call-up for the senior Morocco national team.
AZ will return to domestic league action on November 22 against Sparta Rotterdam.
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