Patrick van Aanholt, Ibrahim Afellay added to Netherlands squad

Premier League duo Patrick van Aanholt and Ibrahim Afellay have been added to the Netherlands squad for the upcoming friendlies against France and England.

Sunderland left-back Van Aanholt and Stoke City midfielder Afellay have been drafted in by Danny Blind after five players withdrew from his squad because of injury.

Fellow Premier League pair Erik Pieters and Daryl Janmaat, along with former Aston Villa skipper Ron Vlaar, Jurgen Locadia and Davy Propper, were the players to drop out.

The Dutch, who failed to qualify for Euro 2016, host France in Amsterdam on Friday before travelling to Wembley to face England next Tuesday.