Bert van Marwijk insists Ruud van Nistelrooy remains in contention to make the Dutch World Cup squad.
Striker could yet be offered a ticket to South Africa
Bert van Marwijk insists Ruud van Nistelrooy remains in contention to make the Dutch World Cup squad.
The experienced striker was overlooked for the 26-man training squad named by Holland in preparation for a summer trip to South Africa.
However, Van Marwijk claims the Hamburg frontman could yet come into the reckoning, with his preliminary party not set to be announced until 11th May.
He is prepared to give Van Nistelrooy as long as possible to prove his worth and insists the door remains open for any of those left still chasing a seat on the plane.
"As for Ruud, I'm giving myself until 11th May to decide," Van Marwijk told
De Telegraaf.
"I'm leaving him until that date to convince me that he is sufficiently in shape to take part in the World Cup.
"I have seen a lot of Ruud playing recently and found that I did not have to call on him for a training camp."
Van Nistelrooy retired from international football after Euro 2008 but has since made himself available again and is hoping to add to the 64 caps he has already won for his country.
