AFTER two years in the international wilderness, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has left the door open for a dramatic return to the Holland fold.

The Middlesbrough striker was overlooked by his country's quest for European Championship glory in Portugal during the summer and many thought he had retired from playing at that level.

Dutch legend Marco van Basten has recently become manager and Hasselbaink has not ruled out making a comeback - if a call came - after enjoying a new lease of life at the Riverside Stadium.

The 32-year-old has struck seven goals in 14 appearances for Middlesbrough since making the move from Chelsea in the summer.

Hasselbaink has impressed with his form in front of goal, but during his days at Stamford Bridge he was regularly overlooked in an orange shirt for Roy Makaay, Patrick Kluivert and Pierre van Hooijdonk and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"I have not officially said I have retired. At the moment I am not thinking about it because I have too much fun playing for Middlesbrough," said Hasselbaink, who has scored nine goals in 23 caps.

"But international football is not in my head right now. I'm not really bothered about it but I know I could still be in the Dutch squad.

"In Holland it's more politics than concentrating on football, that's why I'm not looking too far into things."

It will be 24 months on Saturday since Middlesbrough's dynamic forward last represented Holland and he enjoyed a fitting send off by scoring.

After being introduced as a substitute in Gelsenkirchen on November 20, 2002, he put his side 2-1 up in a friendly with Germany before Nistelrooy completed the win.

But, despite his contribution, Hasselbaink has not played in the famous orange shirt since.

He has had an immediate impact at Boro and has been one of the major reasons why Steve McClaren's men have climbed to fourth in the Premiershp table.

Hasselbaink's goals have also helped the club stay unbeaten in the UEFA Cup this season and look almost certain to make it through to the last 32 of the competition.

Middlesbrough, enjoying their first European campaign, travel to Primera Liga outfit Villarreall next Thursday knowing a point will be enough to ensure progress.

Manager McClaren is delighted with how things have gone this season as he looks to build on February's success in the Carling Cup at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

And McClaren believes the signing of Hasselbaink along with Mark Viduka, Ray Parlour, Bolo Zenden and Michael Reiziger have led to Boro enjoying the start they have.

"The additions of the players like Parlour and Hasselbaink have had a massive impact on this club," he said. "They have really transformed the team over the summer.

"They are the main reason why we are now getting results away from home won their last three as well as at home. Added to Mark Schwarzer, Gareth Southgate and George Boateng we have real driving force behind the team now.''

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