Jakarta, ThedailyID — Mees Hilgers hopes to earn a place in Indonesia’s national team for the November FIFA Matchday. However, the defender must first secure regular playing time at his club, Heerenveen.
Hilgers has been recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury since November 2025. He is now in the final stage of rehabilitation before returning to competitive action.
The defender has already spoken with Indonesia head coach John Herdman about his current situation at Heerenveen. Hilgers hopes to receive more playing opportunities soon and prove his fitness.
“Of course, I have consulted with the coach about my situation here. If I get enough playing minutes and I am fully fit, I think I will receive a call-up from Indonesia in November when I can play,” Hilgers said.
Hilgers suffered the injury while playing for FC Twente. At the time, he was also dealing with issues surrounding his contract.
He eventually moved to Heerenveen at the start of the current season. The move gives him an opportunity to rebuild his match fitness and return to regular competition.
Hilgers became an Indonesian citizen in September 2024. He took the citizenship oath in Brussels, Belgium, alongside fellow naturalized player Eliano Reijnders.
He made his Indonesia debut against Bahrain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Since then, Hilgers has made four appearances for the national team.
His most recent appearance came against Japan in the same qualifying campaign. He has not featured for Indonesia since that match.
Indonesia is scheduled to play two matches during the November FIFA international window. Hilgers hopes to regain his place in the squad if he can return to full fitness and earn enough minutes at club level.
For now, his immediate priority remains getting back on the pitch. Regular appearances for Heerenveen could strengthen his chances of returning to the national team.
