Ajax aiming to reclaim top spot

Ajax aiming to reclaim top spot

Published Oct. 15, 2010 9:15 a.m. ET

The Amsterdammers take on sixth-placed NAC Breda at the ArenA but the full-back is doubtful after sustaining a foot injury while on international duty. Van der Wiel sustained the injury in the dying minutes of Holland's 4-1 Euro 2012 qualifying win against Sweden on Tuesday. Although he finished the match, Van der Wiel complained about pain in his foot afterwards. "I was on the receiving end of a tackle late on in the game," said Van der Wiel. "We had already made three substitutions, so I had to continue playing. "It hurts a lot though. We'll have to wait and see how serious it is." Coach Martin Jol, who bemoaned his side's lack of creativity after suffering their first home defeat of the season against FC Utrecht last time out, will replace Van der Wiel with Oleguer or Daley Blind if the defender does not recover in time. Victory for Ajax will see them climb above current leaders PSV Eindhoven, who play bottom club Willem II on Sunday. PSV went top for the first time in the season with a 3-0 home win over VVV-Venlo before the international break. Two goals from Jonathan Reis and another from Wilfred Bouma secured the victory that also maintained their unbeaten start to the season. However, PSV will be without defender Jagos Vukovic who has been banned for two matches following his sending off in Jong PSV's win over ADO Den Haag. The Serb will now miss PSV's league games at Willem this weekend and their home clash with Feyenoord on October 24. Feyenoord's veteran goalkeeper Rob van Dijk believes he has never been in better shape as the Rotterdam club look to end a poor run that has seen them go without a win for four league games. The 41-year-old has played the last four games as Feyenoord have tried in vain to turn their fortunes around. They currently lie in 13th place in the table and face title contenders FC Twente at De Kuip on Saturday. Van Dijk was outstanding in the draw against De Graafschap last time out and is delighted to be back in the side. "It's going well now, certainly, but I've never been better," said Van Dijk. "Last year when I extended my Feyenoord contract, I was told that the intention was the team would start with a young goalkeeper. "I understand the philosophy but we need a good series of results to catch up with the teams above us." Twente winger Emir Bajrami is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing ankle surgery. The Sweden international injured his right ankle during the Dutch champions' 4-1 Champions League defeat at Tottenham last month. The 22-year-old is now facing several weeks out and will miss this weekend's clash. After Ajax get Saturday's games underway, ADO take on Excelsior, FC Utrecht entertain De Graafschap and AZ Alkmaar visit VVV before Feyenoord's clash with Twente. Sunday's games kick-off with fourth-placed FC Groningen at home to Heerenveen, fifth-placed Roda JC entertain struggling Vitesse Arnhem and Willem's clash with PSV. The final game of the weekend involves second-bottom Heracles versus NEC Nijmegen.

ADVERTISEMENT
share