Jan Vertonghen could miss six to seven weeks with injury - Belgium's Roberto Martinez

Published on: 05 October 2018

Real Madrid and Belgium's Thibaut Courtois has been named the Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper in 2018 after winning the Golden Glove award at World Cup in Russia.

Romelu Lukaku and Belgium dominated Iceland in their Nations League opener, leaving Iceland rooted to the bottom of League A2 after another rout.

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has said Jan Vertonghen could miss six to seven weeks through injury after announcing his squad for the October international break, in which they will play Switzerland and Netherlands.

Vertonghen suffered a hamstring injury in Tottenham's 2-0 win over Huddersfield last Saturday, and Martinez said it is likely to rule the defender out of the November round of international fixtures as well.

"Jan Vertonghen might miss two Belgium camps. Bad news," Martinez told a news conference.

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Fellow Spurs player Mousa Dembele also misses out through injury, but defender Christian Kabasele has been recalled after Watford's good start to the season.

Sampdoria's Dennis Praet could earn his first cap since November 2014, and Martinez said the midfielder is ready to return.

"We've been following Dennis Praet for a couple of years now," he said. "We really want him with the national team now. We want to see what he can do here."

Club Brugge defender Brandon Mechele is the only new face to the squad.

Full Belgium squad:

Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Matz Sels (Strasbourg)

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Jason Denayer (Lyon), Christian Kabasele (Watford), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona)

Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Timothy Castagne (Atalanta), Nacer Chadli (Monaco), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Dennis Praet (Sampdoria), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Valencia), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Leandro Trossard (Genk)

Source: espn.co.uk

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