Bas Dost selection suggests Dutch desperation for upcoming Euro qualifier

Bas Dost selected in the preliminary Dutch squad for the next Euro 2016 qualifier

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Prolific Wolfsburg forward Bas Dost has been selected in Guus Hiddink's preliminary squad for a crucial home Euro 2016 qualifier against Turkey on March 28 and a prestigious friendly against Spain four days later.

With captain and talisman Robin van Persie missing due to an ankle injury, Guus Hiddink has turned his attention to 25 year old uncapped Dost who has taken Europe by storm scoring 13 goals in six weeks, a tally behind only to Lionel Messi's goal scoring streak for Barcelona.

The Oranje are lying third in Group A having already lost to the Czech Republic and Iceland earlier in the campaign and a seasoned professional like Hiddink knows that any stumble against an equally under performing Turkey could have serious repercussions for him and the Oranje as a whole.

The selection of Dost may have raised a few eyebrows given that the former Heerenveen frontman has only struck a rich vein of form at the turn of the year but the Dutch backroom staff certainly believe that the 6ft 5in striker will trouble Fatih Terim's Turkish backline with his physical presence and incisive finishing. Being in top form at club level is completely different and taking that prolific goal scoring streak to the international level will be Bas Dost's biggest test as a professional footballer.

The 2014 World Cup semi finalists, under Hiddink, have been in indifferent form last year. Maybe the toll of a gruelling world cup campaign in hot and humid Brazil had taken its toll and after a somewhat welcoming winter break it remains to be seen whether the Dutch regain their old attacking form and Hiddink is desperate that his selection of Dost comes good sooner rather than later or else the road to France 2016 will be a long and bumpy one.