Nigel de Jong back in Netherlands squad

Nigel de Jong back in Netherlands squad

Published Feb. 4, 2011 2:20 p.m. ET

Midfielder Nigel de Jong's international exile is over, four months after Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk dropped him for a tackle that broke the leg of Newcastle player Hatem Ben Arfa.

De Jong was named Friday in the 22-man Dutch squad to play Austria in a friendly next Wednesday in Eindhoven.

The combative Manchester City midfielder missed three internationals following the tackle on Ben Arfa, but Van Marwijk said the case is now closed and De Jong is welcome to return.

''I invited him and he very much wants to play for the Netherlands,'' Van Marwijk said. ''For me, that's it.''

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De Jong faced fierce criticism of his crunching tackles not only on Ben Arfa but also during the World Cup. During the final against Spain he was lucky not to be sent off after 28 minutes for planting his boot in the chest of Xabi Alonso.

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben was not included in the squad. Robben returned to Bundesliga play last month for the first time this season after recovering from a left hamstring injury that had sidelined him since the World Cup.

''Robben has been injured for six months. He is playing again but I've told him I'm giving him time to get back to the top of his game technically and tactically but also physically,'' Van Marwijk said.

Van Marwijk also called up uncapped FC Utrecht midfielder Kevin Strootman.

''I want to see him up close,'' Van Marwijk said of Strootman. ''I think the boy can go a long way.''

Despite having Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie in the squad, Van Marwijk also called up veteran Hamburg striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and suggested he is in his plans for next year's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

''I still see Van Nistelrooy as a player who can be of value to the team in 2012,'' Van Marwijk said.

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Lineup:

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)

Defenders: Urby Emanuelson (AC Milan), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory Van der Wiel (Ajax), Peter Wisgerhof (FC Twente)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Theo Janssen (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Kevin Strootman (Utrecht), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham)

Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Hamburg), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (PSV)

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