Ajax man backs Maarten Stekelenburg for possible Netherlands recall | OneFootball

Davy Klaassen believes a fairytale return to international duty with the Netherlands for Ajax team-mate Maarten Stekelenburg would be fully deserved.

Goalkeeper Stekelenburg was named in Oranje manager Frank de Boer’s provisional 31-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Turkey, Latvia and Gibraltar.

The 38-year-old was first choice between the posts for Dutch side that flopped at Euro 2012, losing all three of their games in Ukraine.

He fell out of favour after that tournament, earning only four caps (all in 2016) since.

Returning to this first club last summer, Stekelenburg was under no illusions about his place in the pecking order.

However, André Onana’s one-year ban for failing a doping test has thrust the veteran back into the first-team limelight at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Stekelenburg has impressed since receiving the unexpected opportunity, prompting de Boer to put him on standby for the national side.

“We have been making fun of it lately, that he might be eligible again,” Klaasen told Ajax TV (via De Telegraaf).

“But I think he deserved it. Actually, out of nowhere, he had to be there and he is there. So I think he definitely belongs in the pre-selection.”

Stekelenburg, who has 58 caps to his name, is one of five stoppers named in the provisional squad.