VIRGIL van Dijk missed out on the chance to play in the World Cup due to the low regard Scottish football is held in back in his homeland.

But he has revealed that moving to this country from the Netherlands has improved him enormously as a player.

The Dutch centre-half has been outstanding for Celtic since his £2.6million transfer from Groningen last summer.

The 22-year-old only failed to pick up the Player of the Year awards due to the stunning form of his Hoops team- mate Kris Commons.

Yet, the former under-21 international has not been included in the Holland squad for Brazil this summer.

Louis van Gaal, set to be confirmed as Manchester United manager, has repeatedly overlooked the defender despite his stunning displays domestically and in Europe.

Van Dijk knows this is partially due to the fact the SPFL Premiership is not rated as highly as other leagues across the continent.

But he feels he is a far more polished performer after playing in the division for a season than he was this time last year.

"There is a big difference playing here in Scotland and playing in Holland," he said. "I have learned about the British style of playing the game this season.

"I thought I would need more time to adapt to Scottish football. But I settled in at Celtic very quickly and I have enjoyed my first season here very much."

He went on: "I am definitely a better player because of the experience. There is a big difference between Dutch and European football and British football and Scottish football.

"I have learned how to play the two of them now. I am sure that this will stand me in good stead in the future."

Van Dijk added: "In Holland teams want to play football all the time. Even when they are under pressure. Even when they are 2-0 down. They always want to play.

"Here, though, it is far more physical. The referee allows the game to continue after incidents which the game would be stopped for back home.

"There are more long balls. You do not get the same amount of time on the ball. I have been used to having more time on the ball to pick my passes and so on

"That is the big difference. It has been good for my personal development to learn that because obviously I have played in Holland all of my life."

Several of Van Dijk's team mates will be attending the World Cup; including Efe Ambrose, Fraser Forster, Emilio Izaguirre and Georgios Samaras.

The 6ft 4in stopper is particularly pleased that Forster has been named in the England squad by manager Roy Hodgson.

He was highly impressed with how the former Norwich City man, who won his first and, to date, only cap for his country this season, has performed behind him for Celtic.

And he believes the 26-year-old - who will, along with Ben Foster of West Brom, be understudy to Joe Hart - will not let his nation down if called upon.

Van Dijk said: "Fraser is a very good goalkeeper and that is why he has received this recognition. He got his chance in the England squad and deserves to be going to the World Cup.

"Fraser is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He broke the Scottish shut-out record this season and is a phenomenal player and a great guy off the pitch.

"I know he is not the first-choice keeper for England, but, having seen him perform well at the highest level in the Champions League, I know what he is capable of. If he has to play over in Brazil he will not be daunted by that prospect no matter who he is up against. I know he would play well on that stage."

Forster is widely expected to leave Celtic after four years during the close season, with a Barclays Premier League club the most likely destination.

Van Dijk's future has also been the subject of intense speculation as a result of his eye-catching displays for Celtic in the 2013/14 campaign.

He has been dependable defensively and has also netted some sensational goals as his Glasgow club has won the Scottish title for the third season running.

His agent Henk-Maarten Chin caused controversy earlier this season when he claimed that top clubs down in England were monitoring his progress.

And this week the centre- back, who turned down the chance to move to Russia and join Kuban Krasnodar last year, was linked with Moscow Dynamo.

But the player is contracted to Celtic for another three years and it would take a substantial offer - somewhere in the region of £8m - for his employers to allow him to leave.

Van Dijk has repeatedly stressed that he is happy to remain at the Hoops and he will not be downhearted if no move materialises in the coming weeks and months.

He is keen for another crack at the Champions League with the Hoops and believes he can continue to improve with Neil Lennon's side.

He said: "I want to keep getting better as a player and keep winning trophies with Celtic.

"We had disappointments in the cups this season and can do better. There is much that I can still do here and a lot that I want to achieve."