Ajax coach Maurice Steijn has been forced to choose several new names for the starting lineup of Ajax against AZ. Jakov Medic and Amourricho van Axel Dongen are allowed to start. Meanwhile, Silvano Vos returns. Josip Sutalo and Steven Berghuis are absent.
Sutalo and Berghuis are not fit enough to play according to Ajax and are also not on the bench. Berghuis is struggling with a muscle injury. Therefore, Medic and Van Axel Dongen get to go to work. It is expected that Steven Bergwijn will operate as number 10, meaning Van Axel Dongen will likely appear on the left up front.
Vos had to watch from Amsterdam on Thursday as Ajax drew 1-1 away against AEK Athens. The eighteen-year-old youngster was suspended for that match and was allowed by Steijn to stay back in the Netherlands, to be cared for at De Toekomst, and instead of traveling to Greece, to get some rest after busy weeks. Vos replaces Benjamin Tahirovic against AZ. Kenneth Taylor is also lined up in the midfield.
Furthermore, at the back, Steijn again opts for the much-criticized Gastón Ávila (photo) from Thursday. The Argentine was prolific in losing the ball on Thursday and, next to the already insecure-looking Josip Sutalo, did not always make a reliable impression, although Steijn emphasized that the left-footer also did things well. From the kick-off, it will have to be seen whether Ávila starts again in the center or whether Steijn moves the left-back moved Jorrel Hato next to Medic.
In the forward line, Ajax is hoping for flurries from Carlos Forbs and Brian Brobbey, who, according to Ajax's coach, is getting better and better.
