Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has spoken about the decision to send midfielder Frenkie de Jong back to Barcelona ahead of his team's game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

De Jong started in the Netherlands' win over Hungary last time out but has since left the squad to return to his club side on "medical grounds."

Koeman was asked about De Jong at a pre-match press conference and said it was always the plan to start against Hungary and then see how things were looking fitness-wise.

"With Frenkie, you can imagine something of it of course. We had discussed in advance that he would start against Hungary, then we would see what is best," he told reporters.

"That is not traveling and coming on in a second half. He has to prepare further at Barcelona and play matches. That is the most important thing."

De Jong has admitted he needs to take extra care with his ankle injury at the moment, and it's thought he's returned early as a precuationary measure and not because he's suffered a setback.