'Before, I didn't even think about my ankle' - Frenkie de Jong reveals measures he is taking to avoid injury after Barcelona nightmare

Initially hurt during an intense El Clasico match in April, De Jong’s injury was expected to keep him off the pitch for a few weeks. However, complications turned what was forecasted as a five-to-six-week recovery into an absence lasting over five months, significantly impacting both his club and national team contributions.

Despite the setbacks, De Jong has returned to the Netherlands squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, marking his first call-up since September 2023. His selection follows a close call with a potential relapse during Barcelona’s recent 1-0 defeat against Real Sociedad when the midfielder was reportedly left in tears in the dressing room after he was hooked by Hansi Flick after the first half.

In an interview with Voetbal International, de Jong revealed how his injury has led him to adopt a meticulous routine centred on ankle care.

“I spend a lot of time on my ankle," he said. "Now, I have to take much more care of it. Before I didn’t even think about my ankle before matches, but now I get treated before training and matches. I have to put ice on it, I have to make extra preparations to train…. I think this will continue to be the case for a while, I will have to pay attention to that ankle for a longer period of time.”

It remains to be seen if Koeman risks De Jong for the entire 90 minutes against Hungary on Saturday since the manager believes that the player is still some way off from being 100 per cent match-fit. However, he might be introduced in the later stages of the match and again eased into the fold when the Dutch take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.