Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco is a big fan of Ameen Al-Dakhil with the Burnley centre-back ‘one of the fastest defenders in the Premier League’.
As the days of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertongthen come to an end, two living legends riding off into the international sunset, the challenge facing former Schalke and RB Leipzig boss Tedesco is to unearth a new-look centre-back partnership capable of filling their boots.
An eye-catching performance during Belgium’s 1-0 friendly victory over Serbia on Wednesday night, then, will have done Ameen Al-Dakhil’s hopes of a place in Tedesco’s Euro 2024 plans no harm at all.
The Burnley defender, impressing in difficult circumstances at Turf Moor, kept Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandr Mitrovic quiet as the Rote Duivels held onto a lead given to them in just the second minute by ex-Atletico Madrid star Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.
Burnley’s Ameen Al-Dakhil shines for Belgium
“You don’t get the feeling that Ameen is such a young defender when you see him at work,” Tedesco told Sporza at full-time. “In terms of intrinsic speed, he is one of the top defenders in the Premier League. He can recover when he is out of position
“He is always calm and does not seem 21 years old. He’s not the strongest, but he has time to grow. We have to show confidence in him.”
Burnley paid around £3.5 million to sign Al-Dakhil from Belgian outfit Sint-Truiden in January. The Iraq-born speedster had started every one of the Clarets’ Premier League fixtures under Vincent Kompany this season, until an injury ruled him out against Crystal Palace and Arsenal.
An almost ever-present
Al-Dakhil now shares a dressing room with Dodi Lukebakio at international level, Burnley missing out on the chance to link the former up with the latter when being pipped to the post by Serbia for the one-time Hertha Berlin forward over the summer.
“Because (Sevilla) showed interest,” the La Liga newcomer told Marca, explaining why Burnley were pipped to the post for a deal that appeared almost done at one stage this summer.
“When a club like Sevilla shows interest, of course you have to listen. So we talk a lot. You don’t have to think so much because it is a top-level club and that is what I want, to play, to show myself, to improve as a young player.
“It was not difficult to choose Sevilla.”
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