Japanese Yukinari Sugawara underwent surgery on his knee last week. As a result, the AZ right back is out for a few weeks and therefore misses the start of the preparation for the new season.
Sugawara went under the knife in his own country, but he will rehabilitate in the Netherlands. The defender had been suffering from his knee for some time. Despite this, he was part of the AZ selection until the last game of the season.
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The season starts very early for the Alkmaarders. The first matches in the preliminary round of the Conference League on Thursday 21 and 28 July therefore seem to come too early for Sugawara.
The Eredivisie starts for AZ on Sunday 7 August with a home match against Go Ahead Eagles.