The 27-year-old was outstanding during the much celebrated Carling Cup success over Chelsea late last month, but his knee is still swollen as a result of his exertions, which ruled him out of the subsequent loss to Birmingham on the weekend, and is likely to keep him out of Thursday’s European encounter.

“I’m not 100 per cent at the moment. That’s plain and simple,” conceded King.

“I’ve not done much training over the last month or so but once I get my knee right, and I’m not worried about it, we’ve got a great squad. They helped me through the game as well.

King went on to comment on how the Carling Cup conquest served as a massive shot of confidence for the team.

“I think you can see that we are a team that can win trophies,” he added. “Chelsea are an experienced team who have won many trophies and know how to win games.

“But we showed what we can do on our day and it looks like that, from now on, we can win trophies. I always felt winning the Carling Cup was just destined to be, even when we were 1-0 down. It was just one of those feelings. I have a lot of football to come and will stay with the team.”

While King is not expected to be in the side to take on the Dutch in the round of 16, there is better news concerning his defensive partner Jonothan Woodgate, who has recovered from the injury that kept him out of the Birmingham loss.