Kuyt, Sneijder in doubt for Aussie match

Leading Dutch stars Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder are in doubt for the friendly international against Australia here on Saturday, coach Bert van Marwijk said on Friday.

Liverpool striker Kuyt and Inter Milan midfielder Sneijder returned to training late Friday, but van Marwijk could not confirm if they would play against the Socceroos.

Kuyt has been struggling with an ankle injury suffered against Chelsea in the English Premier League last weekend while Sneijder has influenza.

Celtic defender Glenn Loovens is also in doubt with a calf injury and is considered unlikely to play.

Asked by reporters if Kuyt and Sniejder would be fit for the match, van Marwijk said: “I don’t know. We will see.”

The world No.3 Dutch are already without Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Nigel de Jong due to a combination of injuries and family commitments.

The Netherlands are expecting a competitive match against a near-full strength and 14th-ranked Socceroos and will be protecting an 11-game unbeaten run.

“It’s a serious game. It’s a friendly game, but there’s a lot of prestige in this game also for the Australians,” van Marwijk said.

“I know the (Australian) coach (Pim Verbeek), so I know how he thinks.

“So both coaches want it to be serious.

“We have a good team now. We are doing well I think. The players are feeling good and they are ready to play.”

Palermo midfielder Mark Bresciano and Celtic striker Scott McDonald will be missing for Australia.

Bresciano hurt his knee last weekend while in action for his Italian club and is also out of Wednesday’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Oman in Melbourne.

McDonald could also miss the Melbourne match with a back injury preventing him from making the long trip to Australia.

Everton star Tim Cahill promised the Dutch a demanding workout with the Australians not having lost their previous two encounters with the Oranje.

“We don’t come over here and fly half way around the world just to relax,” Cahill said.

“We’ve come back to play and prepare right, train right and try and produce the right result on the football pitch.”

Blackburn Rovers utility Brett Emerton is set make his long-awaited return for the Australians after a year out with a knee injury, most likely off the substitutes bench.

The Socceroos, under previous Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in Rotterdam as a leadup game to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and downed the Dutch 2-1 in Eindhoven in September last year.