Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar looks set to secure a place in the Holland World Cup squad after being given the green light by national coach Marco van Basten.

Huntelaar was named in the Dutch squad for the friendly against Ecuador in March but did not feature in the match.

It now seems that van Basten will give the striker a chance to prove himself when the Oranje face Cameroon on May 25.

Speaking on television show Voetbal Insite, van Basten said: “It is indeed time that he (Huntelaar) gets a chance.

“He is doing well at Ajax, he is really attracting attention. He shows that he can work on this level and that he can achieve. He is scoring goals one after another.

“Huntelaar is smart in the penalty area, is often free as a bird and he is a strong header of the ball. That also goes for other candidates for the position of course, like Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dirk Kuyt and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.”

Van Basten acknowledged that he may be faced with some tough decisions in naming his squad, saying: “It makes no sense to go to Germany with five or six central strikers.

“I think that double strength is enough. So we have to make choices.”

Nevertheless, if Huntelaar does get his chance against Cameroon he is sure to be in the World Cup squad.

Managers must name their 23-man squads on May 15, 10 days before the fixture, and it's inconceivable that he would pick Huntelaar for the match if he had already omitted him from the World Cup squad.

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