Sven Botman has excelled since joining Newcastle and has outperformed Virgil van Dijk this season

If Sven Botman is not selected for this month’s World Cup, we should either back Holland to go far, so good must their defence be, or label their coach foolish and stubborn. Their coach is Louis van Gaal, by the way.

For quite how Newcastle United signed the Lille centre-back for just £32million in June is as big a mystery as the fact A.C. Milan were their only rivals. Already on Tyneside they are talking about the 22-year-old as their best defender since Jonathan Woodgate.

Botman is yet to lose a game with seven wins from 12 appearances. Half of those have brought clean sheets. Indeed, it is three-and-a-half hours since Newcastle last conceded a shot on target at St James’ Park.

Defender Sven Botman has been hugely impressive since he joined Newcastle in the summer

Yes, Botman is part of a defensive unit each worthy of praise, but his performance has stood out. Why? In many ways because he has not had to stand out, so seemingly effortless is his supremacy. He has the build and athleticism of a special forces commando and merciless streak of its sniper division, not to mention the vision.

Eddie Howe and Newcastle’s owners were so convinced by his qualities that they, too, were surprised no other English club had identified his potential. Recruitment departments across Europe should already be holding inquests.

But here is another riddle – Botman has never been capped by Holland. He has played 12 times for the Under-21s and has one senior call-up – two years ago – but, so far, Van Gaal has preferred the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan de Vrij.

Botman has been capped by Holland at Under-21 level but surely deserves a World Cup call-up

That is a quartet of fine pedigree, yes. But on form? Van Dijk is enduring a torrid season at Liverpool and Ake is currently out of the side at Manchester City. Botman, meanwhile, is playing every week as part of the Premier League’s best defence. Newcastle are also fourth in the table.

The Ajax academy graduate withdrew from the Under-21 squad in September to focus on club affairs – he had found himself an unused substitute during a home draw with Bournemouth before the international break – and has started every Newcastle game since.

There was, though, a barbed comment from Under-21 boss Erwin van de Looi, who said: ‘This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this. Still, I respect his decision, because you have to want to play for the national team.’

So far this season Botman has managed to outperform his compatriot Virgil van Dijk

The feeling was Van Gaal would not entertain Botman for Qatar, only to then name him in his 39-man provisional squad last month. Will he now go as the fifth centre-back, or perhaps better?

It was interesting to listen to the Football Oranje podcast this week, whose co-host said: ‘Sven Botman has been imperious for Newcastle. If you don’t recognise the fact he’s doing it in the Premier League in the top four, and you’re picking Micky van de Ven (Wolfsburg) or Pascal Struijk (Leeds) instead, that is a miss, a bit silly. He should get that left-sided centre-back position.’

Holland boss Louis Van Gaal could name an intriguing pairing of Botman and Van Dijk

Botman alongside Van Dijk would be an intriguing pairing, given their contrasting campaigns. The former has even inherited the latter’s ‘Rolls Royce’ nickname in some quarters, although to spend time with him up close leaves you thinking more of an armoured tank.

When Botman spoke to Sportsmail in the summer, we floated the inevitable comparison with Van Dijk. ‘Oh, calm, please,’ he replied. ‘I hope to play with him in the national team and learn from him.’

On the evidence of this season, Van Dijk would do well to watch Botman.