Frenkie de Jong returns to the Dutch national side for the first time in a year

Frenkie de Jong has returned to the Dutch national team after being absent for months. Manager Ronald Koeman has picked the player amongst his 25-man squad for the upcoming two matches in the UEFA Nations League, which will take place later this month.

The 27-year-old De Jong was not picked in Koeman’s provisional squad. However, De Jong made a good impression at his club lately, which led to him being picked anyway. His team FC Barcelona, defeated their arch-rivals Real Madrid 4-0 at the end of last month.

De Jong’s last appearance for the national side came on September 10 last year. This was in a match against Ireland, which Oranje won 2-1. The FC Barcelona midfielder, who also missed last summer’s European championships, has been struggling with an ankle injury for a while.

Attackers Noa Lang and Justin Kluivert are also in the squad, as is Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Nick Olij. Teun Koopmeiners also returns to the squad after suffering from injuries.

Oranje is finishing the Nations League group stage on Wednesday, November 19, against Bosnia and Herzegovina away, three days after they face Hungary at home.

The Dutch national side is second in the group behind Germany. Oranje has five points, as does Hungary. The first and second-placed teams will qualify for the next phase of the Nations League.

The Full Oranje squad is as follows:

• Brian Brobbey (Ajax)
• Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
• Denzel Dumfries (Inter)
• Mark Flekken (Brentford)
• Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
• Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
• Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
• Jorrel Hato (Ajax)
• Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion)
• Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
• Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth )
• Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus)
• Noa Lang (PSV)
• Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United)
• Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund)
• Nick Olij (Sparta Rotterdam)
• Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan)
• Devyne Rensch (Ajax)
• Jurriën Timber (Arsenal)
• Quinten Timber (Feyenoord)
• Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)
• Stefan de Vrij (Inter)
• Wout Weghorst (Ajax)
• Mats Wieffer (Brighton & Hove Albion)
• Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester United)