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Belgium get Doku back but Lukaku out with hip problem
Belgium get Doku back but Lukaku out with hip problem
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group F - Croatia v Belgium - Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - December 1, 2022 Belgium's Jeremy Doku looks dejected after the match as Belgium are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo

The return of Jeremy Doku to the Belgium squad has handed coach Mark van Bommel a luxury problem, he said ​on Wednesday.

Doku, who was ill during the World Cup and ‌had a subdued tournament, missed the opening four matches of the new Nations League campaign in September and October because of injury.

The winger is now ​fit, however, for their last two Group A1 fixtures ​against Turkey in Izmir on Thursday and Italy in Brussels ⁠on Sunday.

"I'm very pleased to have Jeremy back in the ​squad," Van Bommel told a press conference.

"It certainly makes selecting the ​starting line-up more difficult, but I think all five wingers are capable of playing on either side. It's a puzzle, but a nice problem to have. ​I can't give you an answer yet as to who will ​play," he said.

Belgium, however, will be without record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku.

"Romelu is having ‌some ⁠problems with his hip. He was already feeling it yesterday. He is still able to train, but we have mutually decided not to include him in the line-up," added the coach.

"He is an ​important player for ​us, both on ⁠and off the pitch. He's only started one match so far, but he has already made ​an important contribution, including as a substitute.

"So I hope ​I ⁠can get him fit again in time for the match against Italy," Van Bommel said.

Belgium are third in Group A1 with six points, ⁠behind leaders ​France on 10 and Italy on ​seven. The top two advance to the quarter-finals in March.

France face Italy in Milan ​on Thursday.

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