Heracles Almelo play host to FC Utrecht at the Stadion Erve Asito later on Sunday afternoon with Cyriel Dessers motivated to do well against his former club.
The Eredivisie top scorer has confessed that he is extra-excited to face his former Utrecht teammates, and would give everything on the pitch to see Heracles emerge victorious when the two teams meet.
Dessers spent two seasons at Utrecht where he managed only 14 goals in 47 league appearances. He was kept mostly on the bench last season, seeing just 650 minutes of action all season.
The 25-year-old has been a man reborn since joining Heracles in the summer, starting all their 16 league games and rewarding that show of trust with 11 goals and 5 assists.
Sixth-placed Utrecht, one point and one spot above Heracles on the league table, are the next challenge facing the prolific striker. And the former NAC Breda forward is determined to show what John van den Brom’s side missed by selling him.
“I immediately searched for this match when the matchday calendar came out in the summer,” said Dessers, according to quotes obtained from UtrechtFans.
“Moreover, it is the last home game before the winter break, which gives something extra.”
Dessers is enjoying the most prolific season of his career – bar that single campaign at NAC Breda where he netted 22 goals in the Dutch second division. The Belgium-born striker is convinced that Sunday’s opponents would have been happier if they didn’t have to come up against him.
”They keep a close eye on us – and me – at Utrecht. The (Utrecht) boys watched our (Heracles) game against Sparta last week. Joey Konings received a red card in the final minutes.
“But apparently my face came into view and they thought I was being sent off the field. They cheer because they thought I would be suspended for this game…
“Unfortunately, I’m going to disappoint them. I am just there and we want to win.”
Despite being born to a Belgian father, Dessers has made himself available for selection to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the country of birth of his mother.