AMSTERDAM – Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has been forced out of the country’s Nations League games against Greece and Serbia this week because of injury, the Dutch FA (KNVB) said on Monday.
Gakpo, who has scored 25 times in 56 appearances for the Dutch, hurt his ankle in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Serbia in Belgrade, going off after 17 minutes of the Nations League clash following a strong challenge by Sasa Lukic.
The KNVB said he would return to his club Liverpool and new coach Xavi Hernandez would not call up a replacement.
Gakpo netted the late equaliser in last week’s 1-1 Nations League draw with Germany, which was the first game since the World Cup for the Nethelrands and a debut for Xavi.
The Dutch play Greece in Thessaloniki on Thursday followed by a home clash against Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday.
Gakpo misses a return to the Philips Stadion where he played for PSV Eindhoven before moving to the Premier League.
