Van Nistelrooy replaces injured Van Persie
The Dutch Football Association has stated that Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will be kept out for several weeks with an ankle injury.
Van Persie suffered the injury during Arsenal's victory at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, where he was taken off by the club's medical team after 34 minutes.
Fifteen minutes prior, the forward had set up Arsenal's opening goal by playing winger Theo Walcott through on goal with a neat pass.
The 27-year-old will now miss the Netherlands' 2012 European Championship qualifiers against San Marino and Finland, as well as some fixtures for his club.
Plagued by injuries at Arsenal
The news of the injury will frustrate Arsenal, where van Persie has had an injury-ridden spell since joining in 2004.
First among his more serious injuries was a broken toe in January 2006. One year later, he suffered a fractured metatarsal while he injured a knee in October 2007.
Last season, Arsenal's most promising striker was kept out for five months due to an ankle injury he sustained while playing for his national team.
2008-09 has been the only season without a major injury for van Persie, during which he scored 20 goals in 38 starting appearances. Van Persie has scored 19 goals in 51 appearances for the Dutch national team.
Van Nistelrooy his replacement
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has called on Hamburg's Ruud van Nistelrooy to replace Van Persie for the Netherlands' first two qualifiers.
Van Nistelrooy retired from international football in 2008 after an illustrious career with the national team during which he scored 33 goals in 64 appearances.
After his international retirement, van Nistelrooy remained with his club team Real Madrid for a season and a half before signing with German side Hamburg in January 2010.
The 34-year-old's goalscoring form for Hamburg led Van Marwijk to approach him about continuing with the national team. The player is expected to join the Netherlands in training on Tuesday.
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