24 Dec 2009

Van Persie's World Cup hopes take nosedive

1:02 pm on 24 December 2009

The injured Dutch striker Robin van Persie's hopes of being fit for the World Cup have taken a nosedive with Arsenal saying he could be out of Premier League action until May.

Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger says April's the earliest van Persie's likely to return after an operation on his right ankle after being hurt in a friendly international against Italy last month.

But Wenger's more cautious assessment is May - virtually the rest of the season.

The Netherlands start their World Cup campaign in South Africa with a Group E tie against Denmark on June 14.