De Tukkers to challenge AZ

With only six matches remaining in the Eredivisie de Tukkers continue their push for the Champions League as they face N.E.C. in Nijmegen.

For Twente, the arrival of Steve McClaren has been a unequivocal success. The much maligned former head of England has taken the Enschede side to within reach of the championship and the height of European competition.

The former Middlesbrough expressed his pleasure of life and coaching in the Netherlands in media giant Voetbal International:


"I don't miss England. I'm having a great time here. I go to work with pleasure and have no problems with the press. I love this culture."

He further added his respect for club chairman Joop Munsterman:

"He radiates ambition in everything he does, but he also does what he says he will. This is a quality I haven't seen in many board members in the football world."

However in returning to action the manager will have his work cut out for him with a number of injuries to deal with as well as questionable availability for those who were in international action. Lesley Nahrwold and Dario Vujicevic have been called up from Jong FC Twente as Blaise N'Kufo is suspended and Sander Boschker, Ronnie Stam and Patrick Gerritsen are all out injured. In addition to the list is a virtual reprint of a squad list returning from international play last night including Edson Braafheid, Wout Brama, Eljero Elia, Theo Janssen, Nikolay Mihaylov and Marko Arnautović. Each are expected to be available but it is far from being an absolute certainty as Twente looks to close the gap on AZ.