Forward Klaas Jan Huntelaar joined winger Arjen Robben and midfielder Theo Janssen in pulling out injured from the Netherlands squad on Monday for two critical European Championship qualifiers with Hungary.
The absence of Huntelaar and Robben seriously limits Dutch attacking options in two matches that will likely decide whether the Netherlands or Hungary tops Group E.
Huntelaar capitalized on Van Persie being out injured to become the top scorer in Euro 2012 qualifiers with eight goals from four matches. However, Van Persie is fit again and can replace Huntelaar at center forward.
The Schalke forward joined the squad Monday morning at a hotel on the North Sea coast but left just a few hours later after medical staff ruled he had not recovered sufficiently from a knee injury.
Robben, one of coach Bert van Marwijk's most dangerous forwards, has a groin injury while Janssen injured his knee Sunday after scoring both goals in FC Twente's 2-0 defeat of Excelsior.
Van Marwijk called up veteran Hamburg striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and young forwards Luuk de Jong and Jeremain Lens as replacements.
The Netherlands, the World Cup runner-up, leads the group by three points from Hungary ahead of Friday's match in Budapest and the March 29 return game in Amsterdam.
First-choice goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg is out for the season after breaking his right thumb in training with Ajax.
