Pascal Struijk Sets Sights on Netherlands Call-Up After Brighton Move

Pascal Struijk believes Brighton can turn him into a Netherlands international. The centre-back, signed from Leeds this summer, told The Argus he hopes to catch the eye of Xavi Hernandez, the new Oranje head coach who has succeeded Ronald Koeman.

Struijk, who turned 27 on Tuesday, is still waiting for a first senior cap. Born in Belgium to Dutch parents before the family moved to The Hague when he was three, he represented the Netherlands at under-17 level and has long since committed his international future to the Dutch.

The path Pascal Struijk wants to follow

The route from the Amex to the national team is well trodden. Jan Paul van Hecke made his Oranje breakthrough under Koeman during his time with the Albion, before his big-money move to Tottenham this summer, while Bart Verbruggen and Mats Wieffer both went to this summer’s World Cup in the USA with the Netherlands. Struijk would love a belated senior call-up of his own.

Hopefully. I’ve seen how the club develops players and turns them into international players. This is, of course, a step for me where I can play with potential fellow internationals. I think this is something that I would like to achieve and hopefully I’m able to do so.

First, though, comes the club breakthrough. Struijk arrived as part of the Albion’s summer recruitment to compete on the left side of central defence, and he did not feature in the friendly against Roma. Supporters could get a first look at him against Bologna on Saturday – the final run-out before the Conference League play-off away leg.