Janssen injury adds to Ajax problems

Ajax midfielder Theo Janssen is facing a spell on the sidelines after injurying his groin on Saturday.

Coach Frank de Boer took off Janssen at half-time in the 2-0 Eredivisie loss at home to Utrecht as midfielder Theo Janssen could face a spell on the sidelines due to injury.

The former Twente star featured from the start against Utrecht, but stayed behind in the dressing room at half-time with the groin problem.

“Theo complained about a groin injury, so I had to take him off,” De Boer said to Eredivisie Live after the match.

Lowly Utrecht are the first team to beat Ajax in four straight matches in two seasons.

Edouard Duplan opened the scoring five minutes before the interval, after keeper Kenneth Vermeer punched the ball towards his feet, and settled the match after 78 minutes with a superb finish.

Ajax are being plagued by injury problems at the moment, with Janssen joining Nicolai Boilesen, Toby Alderweireld, Gregory van der Wiel, Miralem Sulejmani, Derk Boerrigter and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson on the reigning champions’ list of absentees.

The Amsterdam giants have dropped to sixth with 34 points in the Eredivisie table following the loss.