Van Nistelrooy recalled to Netherlands squad

 The Real Madrid striker is part of a 20-man squad to play Switzerland in a friendly on Wednesday in Geneva.

 Also back in the 20-man squad after a long absence through injury is Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

 Van Nistelrooy, 31, last played in 0-0 World Cup draw with Argentina on June 21 last year, while van Persie last played October 11 in a 2-1 win over Albania.

 Van Nistelrooy, who has scored 28 goals in 54 internationals, fell out with van Basten after the coach left him on the substitutes' bench in a 1-0 defeat by Portugal in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Germany.

 SV Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is also in the squad, although he was sidelined for his side's UEFA Cup match on Thursday at Honved Budapest with a back injury.

 Chelsea winger Arjen Robben, who has been subject to interest from Real Madrid, has not been named as he is still recovering from a knee injury.

 Squad:    Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax).

 Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Sevilla), Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), John Heitinga (Ajax), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Joris Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic).

 Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (SV Hamburg), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar).

 Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).

DPA