Back injury forces Boerrigter out of Dutch squad

Ajax winger Derk Boerrigter pulled out of the Netherlands squad on Tuesday with a back injury, depriving him of the chance to make his senior international debut.

Coach Bert van Marwijk last week named Boerrigter in his 23-man squad to play friendlies against Switzerland on Friday in Amsterdam and Germany four days later in Hamburg.

The announcement marked the latest highlight in 25-year-old Boerrigter's rise from the second-tier league last season to cementing a place in Ajax's starting team this year.

But he aggravated a back injury on Sunday in Ajax's 6-4 loss at Utrecht, and Netherlands officials said he left the squad to return to Amsterdam for treatment.

He was replaced by AZ Alkmaar forward Roy Beerens.