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Holland coach Louis van Gaal played down concerns over the fitness of Robin van Persie after the Manchester United striker was replaced at half-time during Tuesday's World Cup qualifying victory over Hungary.
Van Persie was forced out of the 4-1 win in Budapest after suffering a knock to his thigh, with Klaas Jan Huntelaar brought on in his place, but the Oranje boss insisted he was merely erring on the side of caution.
Concern: Robin van Persie (left) was taken off with a thigh injury
'We took off Robin for precautionary measures,' Van Gaal said.
'It doesn't seem to be too serious, but you never know. We didn't want to take any risks.'
The 29-year-old has scored four goals in three games for United and also found the net in Holland’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against Turkey on Friday.
Another United new boy Shinji Kagawa missed Japan’s World Cup qualifier against Iraq on Tuesday with a back problem but has also reassured fans over the injury.
‘Obviously it's a shame I wasn't able to play. It's not that serious and I don't think it will keep me out for long,’ Kagawa said.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who was in New York to witness Andy Murray’s US Open success, is already without injured striker Wayne Rooney.
Defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are also out, but Jonny Evans could return for Saturday's Premier League clash against Wigan.
Evans had surgery on his ankle over the summer but played 90 minutes for Northern Ireland in both Friday's 2-0 defeat in Russia and Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at home to Luxembourg.
Van Persie's injury scare came after the Dutch had already lost Arjen Robben to a groin strain in the warm-up, with the Bayern Munich winger's misfortune allowing Jeremain Lens into the starting XI.
Setback: Van Persie has a history of getting injured on international duty
And Lens did not let his opportunity pass him by, turning in a man-of-the-match display.
The PSV Eindhoven striker, winning only his sixth cap, scored twice and hit the crossbar before setting up the fourth goal for Huntelaar.
Young defender Bruno Martins Indi scored his first international goal, rendering Balasz Dszudszak's eighth-minute penalty for the hosts irrelevant in the final analysis.
'I have to highlight Jeremain Lens' performance,' Van Gaal said.
'He had an excellent game despite the fact he only got into the starting XI just before the match started.'
Van Gaal has marked the start of his second spell in charge of Holland by giving opportunities to a host of new faces.
Feyenoord midfielder Jordy Clasie was among those to impress last night, but the coach reserved praise for experienced pair Joris Mathijsen and Maarten Stekelenburg, both of whom have been edged out of the first team by younger players in recent times.
Hot shot: Van Persie has scored four goals in three games for Manchester United
Stekelenburg returned to the fold after Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul was ruled out through injury, while defender Mathijsen entered the fray after an hour when Martins Indi picked up a knock.
'Immediately after Krul could not continue I could tell Stekelenburg he would goalkeeping,' said Van Gaal.
'Both he Mathijsen have behaved as professionals. Which is how it should be, but it is not always.'
Van Gaal added that his move towards younger players represented a risk, but was delighted that so far it had paid off with two wins from two in Group D.
'It's about the experience,' he said.
'As a club coach you can easily take such a risk. As a national coach it is that much harder. It's a risk.
'Because if it goes wrong, then my head gets chopped off.
'But six points from two games, six goals for and one against. That's fine.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2202102/Robin-van-Persie-injury-says-Dutch-coach-Louis-van-Gaal.html#ixzz26HIRtn6j
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