Whelan excited by Struijk reveal ahead of Leeds v Crystal Palace
Leeds United ace Pascal Struijk would benefit massively from being called up by Belgium.
That is the view of former Leeds striker and boyhood Elland Road fan Noel Whelan, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Begium manager Roberto Martinez made contact with the 21-year-old about his availability.
The Ajax academy graduate was born in Belgium but has represented the Netherlands in youth football.
Belgian outlet De Telegraaf report Martinez has phoned Struijk in an attempt to convince him to switch allegiances ahead of the European Championships this summer.
Nieuwsblad.be now claim the versatile ace has applied for a Belgian passport but is yet to make a final decision about who he will choose.
Asked by Football Insider whether playing under Martinez would improve Struijk, Whelan said: “It would be brilliant.
“Roberto Martinez is one of these managers that anybody would get on with. He seems very, very caring about his players, very intelligent.
“The sort of manager that every player would love to play for.
“It can only benefit Pascal Struijk being in that Belgian side, even if he doesn’t play being part of that set up will improve him and make him more of an all-round centre-half. It’s exciting for him.
“It would also add another question mark to Koch and Llorente because you’d have another young international centre-half. Not just another player but a full international player there who would be playing alongside some very good international players.
“It’s exciting for Leeds because it seems to me now we’re now nurturing and grooming a very good young centre-half in Pascal.”
In other news, Darren Bent has shared his verdict on Leeds United injury news after speaking to Jack Harrison.