The competition is as stiff as it comes, but a successful transition with Norwich City in the Premier League can make Ricky van Wolfswinkel a regular international striker for the Netherlands.

That's the view of Dutch football journalist Pim Roefols, who writes for one of the country's largest regional newspapers De Gelderlander.

Roefols was in Lisbon at the weekend not only to keep tabs on Van Wolfswinkel, but to witness Dutch midfielder Stijn Schaars' return to action following a four-month injury lay-off.

Still, there was plenty to admire in RVW's Sporting efforts against Moreirense as he scored one, made the injury-time winner and continued to impress ahead of his big summer switch to Norfolk.

'Robin van Persie is the first choice striker for the Netherlands of course, and then we have Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at Schalke,' said Roefols. 'Both are very good players so it is difficult for Ricky van Wolfswinkel to be a serious international at the moment.

'But if he makes goals in England then there is no doubt his chances will get much better. The English league is very closely followed and the level is that much higher also.

'I watched Ricky when he was in Holland and he is going along well. When he played with Vitesse he was very young and also he had a lot of competition there. But you could see that he had skills.

'And Utrecht wasn't much of a better club than Vitesse at the time when he moved, but he had a very good season there and also in the Europa League he played very well, especially against Celtic.

'So he is improving every year and I think when he succeeds in England, he can become a full regular international.'

Van Wolfswinkel's performances since his move to Norwich was confirmed last month have already seen him named the best performing Dutchman outside the homeland for successive weekends by Voetball International.

'What he does do is score easy goals. When he gets a chance, it is almost every time a goal,' added Roefols.

'But I think the Premier League is a little bit better than the Portuguese league, so we may well have to wait and see how he will do with that.'