Jorne Spileers is transferred from promises to Red Devils: “We can rely on our young people”

Club Brugge defender Jorne Spileers will be transferred from the promises to the A-team of the Red Devils, which is in full preparation for the diptych against Serbia and Azerbaijan, national coach Domenico Tedesco confirmed on Tuesday afternoon during the press moment in Tubize.

Spileers, who was called up for the U21, was already present at training on Tuesday morning. At the back, Zinho Vanheusden pulled out injured and there are question marks behind the name of Alexis Saelemaekers. Amadou Onana was also not present at training. It is expected that the pair will not be in the match selection for Wednesday’s friendly match against Serbia and will be prepared for Sunday’s European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan. There was also no trace of goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart on Tuesday. However, the KBVB previously stated that he will join later due to illness.

There were 23 players on the field. Eighteen-year-old Spileers has worked his way into the starting line-up at Club this season, but has been on the bench for the past two games because Ronny Deila suddenly preferred Joel Ordonez.

Question marks for Saelemaekers and Onana

“Alexis Saelemaekers has a little problem. Nothing too serious, but the risk is too great and that is why we have decided to bring Jorne Spileers to the group,” said Tedesco. Saelemaekers’ injury comes at a bad time. “I know that in Italy he plays more offensively as a left winger, but we see him more as a backup for Timothy Castagne at right back. Unfortunately, he is currently experiencing a small problem, which we will solve. Normally that should be off the track on Sunday. Amadou Onana will also probably not be ready to play until Sunday. He played a half with Everton last weekend so he could train and play. But we don’t take any risks, that is the responsibility we bear towards the player and the club. We will do a final check tomorrow morning, but that will probably not be until Sunday.”

Record international Jan Vertonghen and Ameen Al-Dakhil could play against Serbia in the center back. “Jan was able to play for Anderlecht last weekend, right? Well, then he can take office for us too. I completely trust my doctors: if there was a small problem, he won’t play tomorrow. But he has already played for Anderlecht and is feeling good himself, so I think he is ready. In any case, he will at least be in the selection. Ameen was out again after a contact during training last Monday at Burnley. Everything seems to be under control now. He has also been training, so he could be ready to play. We had called up five centre-backs. One of them dropped out and now Spileers is part of the group. This indicates that we can fall back on our promises. Koni De Winter was also a possibility. It shows that we can rely on our young people.”