Virgil van Dijk and Frenkie de Jong out of Netherlands squad on ‘medical grounds’

Virgil van Dijk will return to Liverpool earlier than planned after leaving the Netherlands camp over the weekend.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong will also return to his club, with manager Ronald Koeman confirming that both players will not feature in the game with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday evening in Zenica.

Van Dijk and De Jong both played in the 4-0 victory over Hungary on Saturday as the Dutch qualified for the quarter-finals of the Nations League.

Koeman is quoted on the official Netherlands X account, saying: "For both Frenkie and Virgil it is better for them to leave the training camp at this moment. That decision was taken on medical grounds, with of course the interest of the players coming first."

Van Dijk is the only ever-present for Liverpool in the Premier League this season and one of four players to have started every Premier League and Champions League game.

He will now have more time to recover as Liverpool prepare for a trip to his former club, Southampton on Sunday, before the Champions League clash with Real Madrid . Liverpool then host Manchester City in a crunch week for the club.

Speaking on Saturday after the Netherlands beat Hungary, Van Dijk said: "I want to be important for the group every time I'm on and off the pitch."

De Jong has made seven appearances in all competitions for Barcelona this season after returning to action in October following five months out with ankle ligament damage.

Barcelona are top of La Liga and return to action against Celta Vigo on Saturday.

(ANP via )