Kuyt overlooked by Holland

Striker overlooked for second time

By Amanda Cornforth   Last updated: 21st March 2008

Dirk Kuyt Liverpool v Inter Milan

Kuyt: Not included

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Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt has been left out of the Holland squad for next week's friendly with Austria in Vienna.

The 27-year-old also missed last month's match with Croatia after being overlooked by coach Marco van Basten.

But Van Basten insists that Kuyt could return to the squad in the future, if he shows good form.

"Can he do something to return to the squad? Absolutely: play good football," the coach said.

Impression

"He must make such an impression at his club that we cannot ignore him.

"We must make choices and at the moment our choices are different. Other players are doing better.

"But if Dirk can make himself an important player for Liverpool, it could be that he returns to the national squad."

Kuyt's team mate Ryan Babel has been included in the squad along with several other British-based players.

Aston Villa's Wilfred Bouma, Wigan's Mario Melchiot, Blackburn's Andre Ooijer, Arsenal's Robin van Persie and Celtic player Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink are all named in the squad.

Recovering

Edwin van der Sar has also been overlooked after missing Manchester United's last two Premier League matches with a groin strain.

Van Basten has told the 37-year-old to focus on returning to full fitness.

"I spoke with Edwin (van der Sar) and he told me that he still is recovering from his injury but will possibly play (against Liverpool) on Sunday, though he is still vulnerable," Van Basten said.

"I told him to focus on Manchester United, who have important matches coming up and it is in our best interests that he will be fit when we start preparations for the Euro 2008 finals."

Real Madrid and former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is also absent from the squad after undergoing ankle surgery earlier this week.

Holland squad: Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem); Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax Amsterdam), John Heitinga (Ajax Amsterdam), Joris Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers); Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg SV), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar); Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax Amsterdam), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).