HOLLAND'S forgotten man Patrick Kluivert has been left wondering exactly what he has to do to regain his place in the national squad.

The Newcastle United striker was omitted from Marco van Basten's 20-man party for the upcoming games against Macedonia and Andorra despite scoring six goals in six starts for his new club.

The move disappointed Kluivert - who has 40 goals in 79 appearances for his country - especially as the former Barcelona and AC Milan star is beginning to once-again resemble the world-class striker who terrorised defences across Europe.

The 28-year-old was forced off at half-time against Birmingham on Sunday with a hamstring problem, but it was his shot that led to Jermaine Jenas opening the scoring in the 2-2 draw.

However, his recent run of form has failed to impress his national coach - a fact that has left Kluivert scratching his head.

Kluivert said: "I feel good, I have place in the Newcastle team and I am scoring goals - what else do I have to do to get my place back?

"I think at this moment the I deserve my place in the national team."

Kluivert is still in van Basten's plans with the new coach taking time out when he took over after Euro 2004 to meet with the striker.

Van Basten explained that Kluivert wouldn't be selected in the immediate future because he hadn't played enough football, with the forward failing to hold down a regular place at Camp Nou in his final season.

"At that moment I agreed with the coach but now I am playing well again at Newcastle United," said Kluivert, who was the only Dutch outfield player not to be involved in Euro 2004.

"I was sure I would be invited to join up with the Dutch national team. Unfortunately some people think differently.

"It's not because of my past record. I am not asking for privileges but at Newcastle I am scoring goals and in good form.

"It's disappointing that the manager doesn't think that I am good enough.

"Who can say what the future will bring for me?"

* Tottenham captain Jamie Redknapp is facing a three-match ban following unprecedented Football Association action after being charged with serious foul play over his horror tackle on Everton's Tim Cahill. And the FA could also apply the same criteria to Redknapp's team-mate, England striker Jermain Defoe, who committed just as bad a foul on David Weir in the same match at Goodison Park.

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