• Premier League

Van Persie allays broken toe fears

ESPN staff
October 10, 2013
Robin van Persie played through the pain barrier against Sunderland © Getty Images
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Robin van Persie's fears that he had sustained a broken toe have been allayed, but the Manchester United striker remains a doubt for Netherlands' final World Cup qualifiers.

Van Persie picked up the injury in last week's Champions League trip to Shakhtar Donetsk - with teammate Marouane Fellaini also sustaining a wrist injury in the 1-1 draw. While Van Persie played through the pain for his club at the weekend, he may be sidelined as the Dutch face Hungary in Amsterdam on Friday and Turkey in Istanbul four days later.

"I got an enormous stamp on my toe and I really thought it had been broken, but luckily a scan showed it was not," Van Persie told a news conference.

"I played on Sunday [in the 2-1 win at Sunderland] but the injury has not got better."

Van Persie is just two goals short of matching Patrick Kluivert's record haul of 40 goals for the Dutch national side. The Netherlands, beaten World Cup finalists three years ago, have already secured their place at next year's finals in Brazil as Group D winners.

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