The Holland Under-21 international winger, who signed for Blues on a free transfer from Celta Vigo last summer, has not played a first team game since the shock 2-1 FA Cup 3rd Round defeat against Huddersfield in January and he has explained that the reason for his omisssion is not because of injury. "The reply was that I hadn't been fit for a while, I was injured and couldn't play. "The reaction of the fan was then to say why do Birmingham always seem to sign injured players, blah, blah, blah. "As this came up in the press, I feel I have to clarify my situation in the press, and I will say the same thing to anyone who asks me face-to-face. "I want to make it clear I have only had two injuries since I joined in the summer. "The first was when I got kicked at Chelsea in our first game, which kept me out for about one-and-a-half months. "The other week, I got a hamstring strain [in the Birmingham Senior Cup final against Burton Albion on April 7] but that only kept me out for 10 days. "I am still available, training hard and I would love to be involved. But it is the manager's decision. "I just don't want there to be a wrong or bad impression of me. "At United when I came on with Mikael Forssell, I thought we made a difference and changed the game. But everything has altered through 180 degrees for me and I am frustrated I am not involved in the squad.
"After going to the Liverpool game on Saturday, I was listening to the radio on the way back home when a fan came on and asked 'where the hell's de Ridder?,' he told the Birmingham Mail
"When Alex McLeish came in, I played in his first game at Tottenham and we won and I thought I did well. I have seen the tape back and I was described as one of Birmingham's most dangerous players.
"I like the club, I like Birmingham, I like the fans. I would love us to stay up in the Premier League - and I think we can. But I also have to think about my own career if I am not playing."