Geertruida handed late Netherlands World Cup call-up as Sunderland winger Ta Bi stars in France | OneFootball

Sunderland’s World Cup contingent has risen to 12 after the Netherlands called up loan defender Lutsharel Geertruida to replace injured Arsenal man Jurriën Timber. The Black Cats already had 11 players bound for the finals.

The federation announced that Timber, 24, has not recovered from a groin issue and will leave the pre-camp in New York after facing Uzbekistan. Ronald Koeman has added Geertruida, taking the squad at the Kansas base back to 26.

Timber’s injury kept him out of the final month of his side’s Premier League title win. Geertruida made 30 outings on loan from RB Leipzig and is due to return. The Netherlands face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in the group.

Winger Jocelin Ta Bi will not be in Ivory Coast’s senior World Cup squad, but he has impressed for the Under-21s. The 21-year-old joined from Maccabi Netanya in January, made two appearances, then suffered an ankle injury. He was an unused sub in Sunderland’s last four games before selection for the Maurice Revello Tournament.

Ta Bi opened the scoring in a 3-3 draw with Japan last Monday, then did so again in a 3-1 win over Venezuela. He missed the goalless draw with Portugal, then returned to start and hit a brace in a 2-1 win against Canada on Tuesday. That sealed a semi-final place, with Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, China or Congo next.

Source: Sunderland Echo