Virgil van Dijk: Evan Ferguson absence a boon for Netherlands

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk is all too aware of the advantage his side will enjoy when they face a Republic of Ireland side shorn of Evan Ferguson on Sunday at the Aviva Stadium.

The Euro 2024 qualifier is a must-win affair for Ireland, who trail the Dutch by three points having played a game more, and hopes of emerging from Group B were dealt a fresh blow this week when the 18-year-old striker was ruled out of the games against France and the Netherlands by a knee injury just days after scoring a hat-trick against Newcastle.

Asked about the teenager's absence, Van Dijk said: "If you score a hat-trick just before the international break, then he was definitely going to be in a good shape and full of confidence.

"He looks like he’s a promising striker for Ireland for now and the future, and that’s definitely a big blow for them. But whoever is going to play tomorrow for them, we have to be ready to fight

"I know at home with their fans and their position and the situation that they are in, they will do everything in their power to hopefully make it difficult for us, but we have to be ready and I will be ready."

Dutch manager Ronald Koeman, who has a doubt over Manchester City defender Nathan Ake, has history with Ireland, having played against them in narrow wins at the 1988 European Championships and the 1994 World Cup finals and a 1-1 draw at Italia 90, although he admits times have changed since.

Koeman said: "At that time, they were really strong with good strikers – (John) Aldridge, (Frank) Stapleton, I think – and the coach was famous, Jack Charlton.

"That has changed, of course. They have now more younger players – they need time – they don’t have a lot of Irish players I heard of playing in the Premier League and