De Boer facing fitness fight

De Boer's nandrolone ban ends at the end of the month

Frank de Boer is a major injury worry for Holland ahead of Wednesday night's friendly with England.

Just days after getting dispensation from Fifa to play in the friendly at White Hart Lane, the Barcelona player missed Tuesday's training session with an Achilles injury.

De Boer, whose nandrolone-related ban ends on 31 August, was hoping to use the game as match practice for Holland's World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland on 1 September.

Holland coach Louis van Gaal has included nine British-based players in his squad to face England.

Premiership new-boys Ruud van Nistelrooy, Boudewijn Zenden, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Edwin van der Sar have all been included.

Van Nistelrooy, Manchester United's £18.5m signing from PSV Eindhoven, could line up alongside Chelsea's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in attack.

And Arsenal's Van Bronckhorst and Chelsea's Zenden could team up in midfield.

Van der Sar, signed by Premiership newcomers Fulham from Juventus, competes with Liverpool's Sander Westerveld for the keeper's jersey.

Petta could win his first cap

Chelsea's Mario Melchiot completes the Premiership contingent.

Bobby Petta's form for Scottish champions Celtic has earned him a place in the squad and the possibility of making his international debut.

The former Feyenoord man has been named by Van Gaal before, but missed out through injury.

But he scored in Celtic's 3-1 win over Ajax in the Champions League qualifiers and has been in impressive recent form.

Edgar Davids is included in the squad despite his ban for testing positive for nandrolone.

But he has been cleared to play in friendlies for both club and country.

But unlike de Boer, the 28-year-old will not be available for the World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.

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Squad:

Van der Sar (Fulham), Westerveld (Liverpool), Waterreus (PSV), Van Nistelroy, Stam (both Man Utd), Kamphuis (Schalke), Davids (Juventus), Petta (Celtic), Hasselbaink, Melchiot, Zenden (Chelsea), Hofland, Van Bommel (PSV), Kluivert, Cocu, Overmars, Reiziger, Frank de Boer (Barcelona), Paauwe, Van Hooijdonk (Feyenoord), Landzaat (Willem II), Makaay (Deportivo la Coruna), Van Bronckhorst (Arsenal).