Afellay doubtful for Ajax-PSV

Friday 14 November 2008

It is very doubtful whether Ibrahim Afellay is able to play for PSV when they take on Ajax in the Amsterdam Arena on Sunday.

The midfielder got a knock on the ankle in Wednesday's cup tie against AZ Alkmaar and because of it couldn't train on Friday.

Coach Huub Stevens isn't hopeful about Afellay recovering in time.

"At this moment I think he will not be able to play. Hopefully he can train on Saturday. If yes we might give it a try on Sunday," Stevens said.

Of the other injured players at PSV - Jan Kromkamp, Jérémie Bréchet, Eric Addo and Otman Bakkal - only midfielder Bakkal seems ready in time to play on Sunday.

Stevens' counterpart at Ajax, Marco van Basten, has plenty of personnel problems of his own ahead of Sunday's top match.

Center forwards Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Dario Cvitanich are still not available due to injury and there are no other our and out strikers in Van Basten's squad.

At a press conference on Friday Van Basten was unclear about who he will play up front.

Last week Van Basten tried midfielder Evander Sno in that position but the coach wasn't all that happy about the experiment.

It seems most likely that Luis Suarez will be the lone striker against PSV.

Miralem Sulejmani is back to full fitness after five weeks of absence, but he will start on the bench.

"Perhaps we can use him for 15 minutes or so," Van Basten said.

In Midfield Van Basten is stuck for choices as he indicated that of the trio Rasmus Lindgren, Gabri and Eyong Enoh only two can play.

"Whoever I leave out it will be plenty for the press to talk about," Van Basten said.

Ajax defend a four point lead over PSV.