Mulder adds to Feyenoord woes

Feyenoord face a goalkeeper crisis before the new season after Erwin Mulder suffered a thigh injury during their pre-season trip to Portugal.

Already without first-choice stopper Rob van Dijk, who did not join his team-mates on the Iberian peninsula because of an Achilles injury, Feyenoord could also be without Mulder for their season opener against NEC Nijmegen on August 2.

Mulder will now fly back to Rotterdam for further tests to discover the extent of the injury, which comes as an untimely blow for the 20-year-old, who was looking to establish his place.

He was only recalled from a loan at Excelsior last week following Van Dijk's injury, but his hopes of impressing before the new season have now suffered a setback.

"An injury was the last thing I could use at this moment," Mulder told the club's official website.

"This week I wanted to prove myself and show what I can do, but after just a few days my role is already over.

"I had hoped that I could get some playing time on Saturday for the first time this pre-season in the match against Sporting Portugal, but that is out of the question."

With Brazilian Darley the only fit goalkeeper in Feyenoord's squad in Portugal, the club will fly out fourth-choice Kostas Lamprou as cover.

Those two could now be vying for a first-team place after Mulder admitted he was unsure of the extent of his injury.

"Only when we return to Rotterdam next week I will hear what the injury exactly is," he added.

"I don't know what to expect at the moment. I hope of course that it's not too bad.

"But it's a very disappointing situation because I won't get that many chances to play myself into the picture before the season starts."