NIJMEGEN (DA) — Curaçao defender Deveron Fonville is available again for NEC after an injury during last weekend’s warmup interrupted his return to regular action, according to reports in the Netherlands, with the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Panama approaching.
Fonville could feature against Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League on Thursday, although his playing time would reportedly be limited to 45 minutes.
He had been named to start against Heerenveen on Oct. 31 but withdrew before kickoff, forcing NEC to replace him with Kevin Kers. Coach Dick Schreuder initially indicated that the injury involved a muscle, with further assessment needed to establish its extent. NEC lost the match 1-0.
That setback came shortly after Fonville earned a recall to Curaçao’s squad. A shoulder injury had kept him out of the previous international window, but his return to club action brought him back into Dick Advocaat’s plans for Panama.
Advocaat included Fonville in the 23-player squad announced Oct. 30. Curaçao hosts the opening leg at Stadion Ergilio Hato in Willemstad on Nov. 12 before visiting Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernández on Nov. 15. The series offers a place in the Nations League Finals and qualification for the Gold Cup.
Before joining the national team, Fonville has NEC’s meeting with Omonia at De Goffert and Sunday’s league visit to FC Utrecht on the club schedule. Omonia arrives with two wins from its first three Europa League matches, while NEC won its previous European fixture at Dinamo Zagreb.