Yakubu Missing From Ajax Training

Ajax coach Ronald Koeman has expressed surprise after midfielder Abubakari Yakubu failed to report for the first day of training.

Yakubu was expected to appear for training at the Amsterdam club on Wednesday but he did not show up. Until his non-appearance the Ghanaian midfielder was seen as a exemplary professional.

"He has not called any of us and we cannot trace him anywhere," coach Ronald Koeman said. "It is disappointing because this is not the Yakubu that we know."

The 22-year-old's failure to return for the new season comes just after Vitesse and Ajax reached an agreement on a loan spell for the midfielder. Both clubs are now waiting for Yakubu to turn up.

Yakubu's agent Ger Lagendijk could only tell the two clubs that the player was on his way from Ghana to Holland.

Yakubu was told at the end of last season that he could look for another club, six months after he signed a new one-year contract with Ajax.