Stoke City Talent Misses Out on Minutes in His First Match of the International Break

During this international break, we’ve seen several Stoke City players called up to represent their countries, aiming to give their best while competing against other national teams.

This includes both competitive matches and friendlies, like the one we’re about to discuss. Dutch Stoke City player Milian Manhoef, one of the club's standout talents, is currently representing the Netherlands, having been called up to the U21 national team for this FIFA window.

Friendly Between Netherlands U21 and Mexico U23

In the friendly played on October 10, we saw the Netherlands U21 side compete at a high level against Mexico’s U23 team. The match was filled with intensity and quality from several players. In the end, the Netherlands U21 team triumphed, securing a 1-0 victory with a goal in the 76th minute from Maxim Dekker, a promising defender who plays for AZ Alkmaar.

Despite the competitive nature of the match, head coach Michael Reiziger chose not to give Milian Manhoef any minutes in this friendly. Only two substitutions were made during the game, and unfortunately, Manhoef, who remained on the bench, wasn’t one of them. He was left waiting for an opportunity to represent his country, which didn’t come this time.

Now, the Netherlands U21 squad is preparing for a crucial match in the U21 Euro qualifiers. They are currently top of their group, having played nine matches and earned 27 points, maintaining a perfect record. Their next match, scheduled for October 14, will be against the second-placed team, Sweden U21, in what promises to be a fascinating encounter.

There is hope that Stoke City’s Milian Manhoef will get some important minutes in this crucial qualifier. The 22-year-old hasn’t been getting much playing time at Stoke City recently, with his minutes reduced since the arrival of Narcis Pelach. In their last match against Swansea City, Manhoef came off the bench, a role he seems to be taking on more frequently as an impactful substitute.