Feyenoord Faces Fortuna Sittard Without Jeremiah St. Juste

Feyenoord will have to defend their place at the top of the Vriendenloterij Eredivisie without Jeremiah St. Juste on Saturday. The defender has been sidelined with an ankle injury and will miss the home clash with Fortuna Sittard at De Kuip, Giovanni van Bronckhorst confirmed on Friday.

“I know for certain that Jerry won't be there tomorrow. We hope to get him ready for next week. So he won't be in the squad,” the Feyenoord coach said in Rotterdam-Zuid, drawing a firm line under any late fitness hopes.

Kick-off is at 16:30, with the game broadcast live on ESPN 3, and Van Bronckhorst heads into it with a reshaped side and a clear medical bulletin.

St. Juste out, others on the way back

St. Juste’s absence is the headline, but there was more movement in the treatment room. Shaqueel van Persie and Reiss Nelson are back in full training as they push towards a return.

“I expect them both back next week. Whether that's against Inter or sc Heerenveen, we'll have to wait and see,” Van Bronckhorst explained, keeping the door open for a timely boost ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.

Gijs Smal, meanwhile, has been ill this week, the coach added, rounding off a medical update that underlines how much juggling is needed behind the scenes.

Ernst in goal, López rewarded, Watanabe–Mármol at the heart

On the pitch, the changes are clear. Against Fortuna, Tjark Ernst will start in goal, handed the responsibility of anchoring a back line that has been reconfigured.

Givairo Read takes charge of the right flank, while Javi López is rewarded for his impact off the bench against PSV with a start at left-back. His performance in that cameo has pushed him to the front of the queue.

Between them, Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Mika Mármol will form the central defensive partnership, tasked with giving the league leaders a solid platform in Rotterdam.

Midfield balance and attacking intent

In midfield, Charles Vanhoutte and Oussama Targhalline will sit in the engine room, providing the cover and control that allows Gjivai Zechiël to break lines and drive towards Fortuna’s goal.

That structure is designed to tilt the game in Feyenoord’s favour, freeing Zechiël to connect with an attack built on pace and width.

Out wide, Anis Hadj Moussa starts on the right and Luciano Valente on the left, both set to test Fortuna’s full-backs and stretch the Limburg side.

Leading the line is Nacho Ferri, spearheading the attack for the Eredivisie leaders in front of a home crowd expecting both a performance and three points.

St. Juste will watch from the sidelines this time. The real question is whether the reshuffled XI can keep Feyenoord’s momentum rolling without him.