Ruben van Bommel has returned to PSV after an international break that marked an important step in his young career, with Ruud Gullit revealing that the winger had already caught the attention of former Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman before his serious injury.

Van Bommel made his Netherlands debut under Xavi Hernandez and featured in all four matches during the international window. His standout moment came against Germany, when he produced a superb assist as the Netherlands scored a late equaliser to draw 1-1.

The Netherlands then defeated Serbia 1-2, drew 2-2 with Greece and secured another 2-1 victory over Serbia at the Philips Stadion.

Van Bommel started against Greece after Cody Gakpo suffered an injury in Belgrade. However, the PSV winger was substituted at half-time with the Netherlands trailing 2-0, as former PSV player Noa Lang came on.

Despite that difficult night, Van Bommel’s overall emergence has caught Gullit’s attention.

“If someone two months ago had asked me which talent would now announce itself in Oranje, I wouldn’t have been able to give an answer. Now Van Bommel, Meerdink and Zechiël have shown themselves,” Gullit wrote in his column for De Telegraaf, as quoted by PSV Inside.

The former Netherlands international also pointed to the difficult road Van Bommel has travelled since joining PSV.

The winger moved from AZ to Eindhoven last year for €15 million and made an encouraging start before suffering a serious setback against Ajax on September 21, 2025.

Van Bommel sustained a severe cruciate ligament injury during the 2-2 draw and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

His return has since been closely watched, particularly given the level he had already shown before the injury.

According to Gullit, Van Bommel’s progress had not gone unnoticed by the previous Netherlands coach.

“We knew because of his injury that Van Bommel was about to come. Back then, national team coach Ronald Koeman had him on the radar when he got injured at PSV,” Gullit explained.

The former Netherlands star stressed that Van Bommel’s return from such a serious knee injury was never guaranteed.

“You have to wait and see how such a young player returns from such a serious knee injury.”

Van Bommel has now made that return and taken another significant step by earning his first Netherlands cap.

Gullit believes the PSV winger is continuing to develop at pace.

“He goes like a bullet and is working to keep his promise,” he concluded.

For PSV, Van Bommel’s return to club football comes at an important moment. Peter Bosz’s side suffered their first Eredivisie defeat of the season before the international break, losing 3-2 to FC Twente despite taking a 2-1 lead.

After his first taste of senior international football, Van Bommel now returns to Eindhoven with another opportunity to establish himself as an increasingly important player for both PSV and the Netherlands.