Koeman backs Malen to shine for the Netherlands in starting role

Ronald Koeman believes that Aston Villa's Donyell Malen has what it takes to lead the line for the Netherlands during their upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures. 

Malen is in line for a starting spot for the Netherlands' qualifiers against Malta and Finland this month after scoring twice in Villa's 2-1 win over Burnley in the Premier League. 

Indeed, he netted a brace in a game across all competitions for the first time since February 2024 for Borussia Dortmund against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga. 

Malen's cause has been helped by an injury to AZ Alkmaar forward Mexx Meerdink, while Memphis Depay joined the squad late after his passport was stolen in Brazil. 

"He can play in several positions. You can see that at Aston Villa," Koeman said of Malen. "Of course, he can do it not only as a substitute, but also as a starting force.

"But there is competition for the positions in which Donyell plays."

Meerdink has scored three goals in eight Eredivisie appearances this season, with his form rewarded with a first call-up to the senior national side. 

"In the last part of the training, when he went to finish some balls, he got into trouble," Koeman said of the forward's injury that has ruled him out of their upcoming matches. 

"It turned out to be so serious that he unfortunately had to drop out."

Koeman also confirmed that even if Depay had been on time for international duty, he would not have started against Malta given his lack of recent match minutes. 

Depay became the Netherlands' all-time top scorer after netting a brace in a topsy-turvy 3-2 win over Lithuania in their last qualifier in September. 

However, a hamstring injury has seen him miss four matches for Corinthians, though he did make his return to the Brazilian side just before the international break. 

"Even if he had been on time, he wouldn't have started. Because he was not too fit," Koeman added.

"I spoke with him for a while. Memphis has also not been fit in recent weeks and has only played twenty minutes in the last weekend."

The Netherlands are top of Group G with 10 points from their first four games, and will be confident of extending their unbeaten run at Ta'Qali National Stadium. 

Koeman's team thrashed Malta 8-0 in the reverse fixture in June, with Malen and Depay both scoring braces while Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven were also on target. 

"I like teams that also dare to attack and not just defend, which is what Malta did in Groningen," Koeman said. "But they will also have learned from that match."