Arjen Robben in tears as Dutch star makes first start after injury nightmare

Arjen Robben was overcome with emotion after making his return to the pitch for boyhood club Groningen after missing 169 days and 25 fixtures after suffering a calf injury in October.

The 37-year-old Eredivisie, Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga winning forward delivered two assists on his return in a 4-0 win over Emmen, having been handed a welcome start by Danny Bujis.

Having started his career at Groningen back in 2000, he played for PSV, Chelsea and Real Madrid before winning eight league titles and the Champions League in Germany.

Robben announced his shock return to action last July after retiring with Bayern Munich, and has even discussed an unlikely call up to the Netherlands national team.

He told ESPN: “I have come a long way, this is what I wanted. I want to help this club and I want to play football. If I can and succeed, then I am very happy. It has been a long and hard road.

“It was tough and difficult but I kept fighting. The reward has to come sometime.

“I had fun, like a child, and it was also important to the team today.”

Adding when asked what he would do if he got a call from Netherlands boss Frank de Boer: ”Then I would go. It would be fun, but you must be realistic, very fit, and know you can contribute to the team.

"After all, the Oranje [the Dutch national team] is a step up.

"Going to Euro 2020 is somewhere in my wildest dreams, but you must be very careful because I can already see tomorrow's headlines.

"Right now I'm not saying I want to go, but if he [De Boer] should call, I'd say yes."

Robben made 96 appearances for the national side between 2003 and 2017, scoring 37 goals while playing at six different major tournaments including their runner-up finish in 2010.

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