Ryan Babel’s dream of going to the World Cup with the Netherlands could be seriously compromised by a right hamstring injury, the AP have reported.

As yet there has been no word of the gravity of the problem currently suffered by the 23-year-old, who has had a difficult campaign with club side Liverpool, struggling to gain regular first team minutes.

Ryan Babel’s dream of going to the World Cup with the Netherlands could be seriously compromised by a right hamstring injury, the AP have reported.

As yet there has been no word of the gravity of the problem currently suffered by the 23-year-old, who has had a difficult campaign with club side Liverpool, struggling to gain regular first team minutes.

With 37 caps already to his name, Babel has been a regular member of the international setup for around three years and was likely to head to South Africa, though coach Bert van Marwijk must trim his provisional squad of 30 down to just 23. Doubtless he will take physical condition into account, and Babel’s latest set-back is sure to count against him in the final reckoning.