As reported by Voetbalkrant, Antwerp head coach Mark van Bommel has confirmed that former Southampton and Tottenham central defender Toby Alderweireld will return to the starting line-up against Zulte Waregem on Friday night. The current Antwerp captain has played 36 times in al competitions for the side this season, scoring twice and providing two assists. He joined the side in the summer from Al-Duhail SC for a fee in the region of €4.00m.
The 34-year-old recently announced his retirement from the national team. Part of Belgium’s golden generation, Alderweireld made an impressive 127 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring five goals. He was part of the side that made the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, the closest the generation got to winning a major tournament. Alderweireld joins Eden Hazard in announcing they will no longer play for the national team, allowing new man Domenico Tedesco to look to the next generation.
Antwerp are currently third in the table eight points away from Genk in first and just five points away from Union St Gilloise in second. Zulte Waregem, on the other hand, are second bottom and three points from safety. However, the side may well be able to welcome back Ruud Vormer from a broken collarbone. The 34-year-old recently returned to training.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
