Netherlands have indicated that Robin van Persie will not be fit for Manchester United's crucial matches against Tottenham and Liverpool by omitting him from their squad to face Turkey and Spain.
Guus Hiddink's side play Turkey in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Mar. 28 and 2010 World Cup winners Spain in a friendly three days later.
Before those games, United face Spurs at Old Trafford on Sunday and visit Anfield to take on Liverpool -- rivals for a top-four finish -- on March 22.
The absence of Netherlands skipper Van Persie from the national squad is a sign that his ankle injury is expected to keep him out for at least another two weeks.
The 31-year-old was hurt in the closing minutes of United's 2-1 defeat at Swansea and has missed their last three games.
Old Trafford manager Louis van Gaal is yet to reveal how long he expects the 10-goal striker to spend on the sidelines, saying before the win at Newcastle: "It is too quick to say anything about that."
Van Persie struck in United's 3-0 home win over Liverpool in December and scored their winner at Anfield in 2012.
In the former Arsenal forward's absence, Van Gaal has only three specialist strikers -- James Wilson, who has started two league games this season, Radamel Falcao, who has managed four goals in 20 games for United, and in-form captain Wayne Rooney.
Netherlands manager Hiddink named QPR's Leroy Fer in his 28-man squad, suggesting the midfielder is close to a comeback after a knee injury.
He also recalled fit-again midfielder Wesley Sneijder and gave in-form Wolfsburg forward Bas Dost his first call-up in a group that includes United's Daley Blind.