Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida handed late World Cup call-up as Ta Bi shines in France | OneFootball

Sunderland’s World Cup contingent has risen to 12 after loanee Lutsharel Geertruida was drafted into the Netherlands squad, with Jurriën Timber unable to take part due to a groin injury. The Black Cats already had 11 players from the Europa League-qualifying squad set for the finals.

The Netherlands FA announced that Timber, 24, has not recovered sufficiently and will leave the pre-camp in New York after facing Uzbekistan, adding that Ronald Koeman has called up Geertruida as his replacement to restore the party in Kansas to 26.

Geertruida spent last season on loan at the Stadium of Light from RB Leipzig and made 30 appearances. He is set to return to Leipzig as it stands, though he now has a chance to impress in a group containing Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.

Winger Jocelin Ta Bi will not be in Ivory Coast’s senior World Cup squad, but he has caught the eye with the under-21s in France.

The 21-year-old joined from Maccabi Netanya in January and featured twice before an ankle injury. He was an unused substitute in Sunderland’s last four matches, then returned to fitness in time for the Maurice Revello Tournament selection.

Ta Bi opened the scoring in a 3-3 draw with Japan last Monday and did so again in a 3-1 win over Venezuela two days later. He missed the goalless draw with Portugal on Saturday, before starting and scoring twice in a 2-1 victory against Canada on Tuesday night. That result secured a semi-final place, with Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, China and Congo possible opponents.

Source: Sunderland Echo