Artem Stepanov unavailable for FC Utrecht trip to Groningen
Bayer Leverkusen have not yet released the on-loan striker for the next stage of his spell in Utrecht, while illness has also depleted Anthony Correia’s squad.
FC Utrecht will be without Artem Stepanov for Sunday afternoon’s away match against FC Groningen because parent club Bayer Leverkusen have not yet released the striker. The 18-year-old Ukrainian also spent the second half of last season on loan at Utrecht.
According to De Telegraaf, Stepanov’s loan has been divided into two periods because a player cannot be loaned out continuously for 18 months. Leverkusen also considered the timing of his release beneficial because of regulations covering loan-player quotas and home-grown players in Germany.
Utrecht attempted during the past week to persuade Leverkusen to make Stepanov available earlier, but those efforts were unsuccessful. The club expects the necessary release to be granted next week, after the forward celebrates his 19th birthday on Monday.
Head coach Anthony Correia has further selection problems for the game at Euroborg. Goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, defender Matisse Didden and Nigel Ogidi Nwankwo are all absent through illness, meaning Michael Brouwer will start in goal. Young German Ferdinand Pohl, who joined Utrecht on a free transfer from Leverkusen this summer, is also named in the starting line-up.
Reported first by
- FC Utrecht zonder spits Stepanov tegen FC Groningen: reden verhuurregels Bayer Leverkusen | De Telegraaf— Telegraaf Voetbal
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