When Turkey hosted the Netherlands in their opening World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, all eyes were on a £67 million play-maker who has emerged as the driving force behind Barcelona’s La Liga title bid in recent months.
But, as Frank de Boer’s side suffered a shock 4-2 loss at the Ataturk, Frenkie de Jong was little more than a frustrated spectator, relegated to the periphery by none other than a West Brom loanee.
Then again, another monstrous midfield display from Okay Yokuslu will come as no surprise to Baggies fans.
The Celta Vigo loanee has been in superb form since moving to West Bromwich in January, providing steel and silk in Sam Allardyce’s engine room while standing out a mile at a club where genuine, elite-level talent is at a premium.
35-year-old hat-trick hero Burak Yilmaz dominated the headlines – and with good reason – but it was the defensive triumvirate of Yokuslu, Ozan Kabak and Caglar Soyuncu who provided the platform in a famous win for the most talented Turkish side in living memory.
Yokuslu not only cleared a goal-bound Matthijs de Ligt header off the line while restricting the influence of Oranje talisman Memphis Depay, he also showed his worth at the other end, winning the penalty that put Turkey 2-0 up early in the first-half.
If, or when, West Brom are consigned to relegation, Yokuslu surely won’t be short of offers from elsewhere. After all, who doesn’t want a disciplined, dynamic defensive midfielder who can pass, tackle and dribble?
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