Newcastle United star earns surprise call-up amid recent snub

The Magpies could have another player in action when the tournament gets underway next month.
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Newcastle United defender Sven Botman has been named in the Netherlands provisional World Cup Finals squad.

The former Ajax academy product has enjoyed a promising opening to his time at St James Park after he made a summer switch to Tyneside from Lyon. Botman also spoke of his determination to succeed with the Magpies and made a controversial decision to reject a recent call-up to the Dutch Under-21 side in order to continue his adjustment to life in the Premier League.

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Addressing Botman’s decision, Magpies manager Eddie Howe said: “I think everything gets blown out of all proportion. Sven was keen to continue his learning and development here in terms of adjusting to the Premier League. I think he's done that really well; certainly from the two weeks he's had with us, he's trained excellently and I think it's really benefited him.

“We were pleased to keep him because you have that control over what they're doing when they're here.”

However, the decision does not seem to have impacted on Botman’s hopes of progressing into the Dutch senior squad and his fine recent form for Newcastle has now been rewarded when his name was listed on a 39-man provisional squad for the first ever winter World Cup Finals.

Oranje manager Louis van Gaal has also named former United striker Luuk de Jong and reported Magpies target Memphis Depay have also been named in the initial squad. However, the former Manchester United and Barcelona manager will have to make a number of big calls on several players before he announces his final 26-man squad before the tournament gets underway next month.

The Dutch will face Ecuador, Senegal and tournament hosts Qatar in Group A and could face England in the round of 16.