New Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink has urged Robin van Persie to work out his differences with Pierre van Hooijdonk.

The Manchester United forward was irked by disparaging comments made by Van Hooijdonk, who was recently hired to the Dutch coaching team, ahead of the World Cup third-place playoff.

Hiddink told reporters: "There's going to be a discussion between Van Hooijdonk and Van Persie. They should sit down together like grown men, bang their heads together and speak their minds as guys should. I plan to schedule a meeting between them soon.

"We have to sit down like big boys and clear them out of the way. I want to do that soon. Van Persie is captain of the team at the moment and I see no reason to change that, even though it is too soon for me to say that for definite."

Van Persie, 30, helped Holland to third place in the World Cup as he scored four goals along the way.