NEW ROLES ‘SPECIAL’ TO DUTCH PAIR

HE began the season out in the cold, an isolated figure in a stand-off with the club that gave him his big break.

In Amsterdam tonight, Virgil van Dijk (above, left) will skipper Holland for the first time, the latest landmark step in his dream start to 2018.

And, as he spoke of his “special” honour of leading his national side, Van Dijk cited Jordan Henderson as one of his shining captaincy examples.

“Jordan does it very well and I watch all the things he does at Liverpool,” said Van Dijk.

“Hopefully, it can help me. To be named captain is very special, my first game as captain of my country will be special – and it will be even more special being against England.”

And Ronald Koeman, prior to his first match as Holland manager after more than three seasons in the Premier League, caught the Van Dijk mood and the word of the day.

“This will be a bit special for me,” he said. “It was a great time in the Premier League, but everyone knows how it finished at Everton.

“I admire and respect the Premier League, but it is a different project now and I am really proud.”

Koeman (above, right) has to try to restore Dutch pride after their failure to qualify for the World Cup finals.

But England might be ideal opponents, having failed to beat Holland in their last seven attempts.