Rafael Struick at Dewa United, open to return under John Herdman

Rafael Struick is channeling his recent omission from the senior squad into consistent performances for Dewa United in the BRI Super League, maintaining that his primary focus remains hard work at club level while keeping the door open for a potential return under national team manager John Herdman.

Chasing Consistency at Club Level After Extended Absence

The 23-year-old forward has steadily carved out a role in the starting lineup for Dewa United Banten FC during the 2026/27 campaign. Over his first seven league appearances this season—five of which came as a starter—he has contributed one goal and one assist, helping lift the Tangsel Warriors to second place in the standings with 14 points, four behind leaders Persija Jakarta.

Struick’s last competitive appearance for the senior Garuda side came on March 20, 2025, during a 5-1 defeat against Australia in World Cup qualifying. He subsequently spent time on the bench during fixtures against Bahrain, China, and Japan before dropping out of senior contention entirely under both previous and current coaching staffs, though he has occasionally featured for Indonesia’s under-23 and under-22 setups.

Speaking in Jakarta after attending a screening of the documentary film The Longest Wait, Struick addressed his current international status without dwelling on past selections.

Sejujurnya, saya tidak mengharapkan apa-apa. Saya hanya berusaha terus bekerja keras, memberikan 100 persen bersama Dewa United, Struick told reporters.

Tactical Progress Under Osmar Loss

Dewa United head coach Osmar Loss has praised the young attacker’s dedication to tactical instructions, noting that his contributions extend far beyond finishing chances in the penalty box. Loss highlighted Struick’s movement off the ball, defensive pressing, and discipline within the team’s tactical framework as key reasons for his sustained run in the first team.

Mengenai Rafael, dia merupakan pemain muda yang pada musim ini menunjukkan perkembangan dan performa yang sangat bagus, terutama dalam menjalankan tugas-tugas taktis di dalam tim, Loss stated, adding that the coaching staff continues to work with the player on fine-tuning specific aspects of his game.

While acknowledging the forward’s upward trajectory, the Brazilian manager emphasized that squad selection rests entirely with the national team setup. Loss declined to lobby for his player’s inclusion, pointing out that national team coaches monitor all domestic and international candidates independently.

Squad Depth Challenges Ahead of November FIFA Matchday

Struick’s renewed push for a national team recall coincides with fitness concerns surrounding fellow striker Ole Romeny. The Fortuna Sittard attacker sustained an ankle injury while representing Indonesia at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final against Thailand and recently revealed via social media that the damage is more severe than initially diagnosed, putting his availability for upcoming international fixtures in doubt.

Preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Group Stage

Indonesia is currently building toward its campaign in Group F of the AFC Asian Cup 2027, where the squad faces a demanding schedule against some of the continent’s established programs. The team opens its group matches against Japan on January 11, 2027, at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

The Garuda squad will then travel to Al Khobar to face Qatar on January 16, 2027, at the Aramco Stadium, before concluding the group stage against Thailand on January 20, 2027, at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

Semoga performa dan kualitas permainan saya bisa terlihat sehingga pelatih dapat menyadarinya. Saya selalu siap jika dipanggil, Struick concluded.

More on United: Manchester United monitors Estevao in potential transfer deal