Holland want Babel for Olympics, ruling him out of Liverpool's start

The winger was ruled out of Holland's Euro 2008 campaign after tearing ligaments in training on Saturday, but national coach Marco van Basten insists he should be fit by August.

"He needs five to seven weeks to recover," Van Basten said of the former Ajax youngster.

Wanted: Ryan Babel is injured for Euro 2008 but Holland want the Liverpool winger for the Olympics in Beijing.

If Babel recovers by August, the Dutch will want him to play in China.

Coach Ari Haan said: "With his qualities, Ryan is a vital player for our plans."

Talking about Babel's injury, Van Basten added: "He was on the other end of the field when he turned around. He told me that he heard something snap, and others heard it too.

"He went to a hospital and there it became clear he had torn a muscle."

Babel's appearance in Beijing would clash with the start of the Premier League season and cause another headache for Rafael Benitez.

The Liverpool boss is also set  be without Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano, who is being lined up as an over-age player.

Liverpool could even lose Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva as the South Americans are now considering calling him up.

Liverpool's next confirmed match is a friendly away to Villarreal on July 30, by which time, if the Holland coach's assessment is right, Babel should be back in training.