Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk has been named in the Netherlands provisional squad for the first time. The 23-year-old is one of five players to receive a first international call-up for the Oranje.
The Netherlands will face Poland (22 Sep) and Belgium (25 Sep) during the upcoming international break in September.
Van Gaal’s 32-man provisional squad will have to be whittled down to 26 players.
Struijk, who is also eligible for Belgium and Indonesia, earned three caps for Netherlands U17s in 2016.
He stated last week that his best route into international football would be to focus on continuing his impressive momentum at Leeds.
The former Ajax youth defender has filled the void at left-back since Junior Firpo was ruled out with injury during pre-season in July.
"It's a dream for every player to go to the World Cup but I'm not too focused about that right now," Struijk told BBC West Yorkshire Sport Daily.
"I'm more focused about how I'm playing. So far I'm doing well I think and I just need to try and keep the momentum going and see what happens in the future.”
Full Netherlands Preliminary Squad
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Jasper Cillessen (NEC Nijmegen), Mark Flekken (Freiburg), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax Amsterdam)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Ajax Amsterdam), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Bruno Martins Indi (AZ Alkmaar), Devyne Rensch (Ajax Amsterdam), Pascal Struijk (Leeds United), Jurrien Timber (Ajax Amsterdam), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Steven Berghuis (Ajax Amsterdam), Jordy Clasie (AZ Alkmaar), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Davy Klaassen (Ajax Amsterdam), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax Amsterdam), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Steven Bergwijn, Brian Brobbey (both Ajax Amsterdam), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Cody Gakpo (PSV Eindhoven), Vincent Janssen (Royal Antwerp), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas).
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