Ajax coach disappointed Akpom did not get match practice during the international break 

Ajax Amsterdam coach Maurice Steijn is disappointed Chuba Akpom and a few other first teamers did not get match practice during the recent international break. 

The Eredivisie giants had lined up some friendlies to keep the players not called up for international duty in shape but the games were canceled due to a lack of players. 

Steijn had a very thin squad with Brian Brobbey and Steven Bergwijn (Netherlands), Josip Šutalo and Borna Sosa (Croatia), Georges Mikautadze (Georgia),  Benjamin Tahirović (Bosnia and Herzegovina:), Kristian Hlynsson (Iceland), Kenneth Taylor, Devyne Rensch, Anass Salah-Eddine and Jorrel Hato (Netherlands U21) reporting to their national teams. 

Other Ajax players on international duties were:  Anton Gaaei (Denmark U21), Stanis Idumbo Muzambo (Belgium U19), Carlos Forbs (Portugal U21), Oualid Agougil and Gerald Alders (Netherlands U19).

Akpom needs to get his fitness levels up as he has struggled for game time since his transfer to Ajax Amsterdam and missed a large chunk of pre-season training at former club Middlesbrough with an injury he was recovering from.

In quotes relayed by Ajax Showtime, Steijn explained: "We wanted to play a practice match this period to allow a number of boys to get minutes, but we simply did not have enough players.

"We had two field players from the A-selection and a number from Jong, so we have already had to cancel a practice match twice during an international match.

"Anton Gaaei, for example, also made ninety minutes. You just wanted to give men like Akpom and Medic some extra minutes in this phase."

Akpom has logged 149 minutes spread across six matches in all competitions since joining Ajax on a five-year deal in August.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: ajax.nl

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com