The young centre half arrived at the club in the summer but has already become a mainstay in the team.
After a win over Nottingham Forest, where van de Ven scored, Postecoglou told reporters on his potential:
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I don't know. What I do know is that he's got a real appetite and determination to be the best he can be.
He does that every day and his defensive work was outstanding today and it was a great strike for the goal. It was a well-worked set piece. It's a credit to him.
We're not going to be the ones who put any limits on his growth and I don't think he'll allow us to do that. In my mind, with all of these things I think that if we keep providing an environment for these guys to keep pushing themselves, not just Micky but others will be dragged along as well because they're all competing."