Robin van Persie was pleased to have made his Netherlands comeback last night - and taken another step towards full fitness.

The Arsenal striker came on at half-time of the 1-0 win over Turkey in Amsterdam for his first game for his country since the FIFA World Cup™ final defeat to Spain in South Africa.

Van Persie has been sidelined since with an ankle injury but made an important contribution at the ArenA with the cross for Klaas Jan Huntelaar which settled the contest.

It all went well. I was not troubled by the match, everything went according to plan.
Robin van Persie, Netherlands forward

"It's very nice to be back," said Van Persie, whose initial call-up for the game was questioned by his club manager Arsene Wenger.

"I see it as a win-win situation. I am pleased that the Dutch coach is happy and that the coach of Arsenal is also happy.

"It all went well. I was not troubled by the match, everything went according to plan. The training that I've had with the Dutch team, I have not had at Arsenal."

Van Persie's return was one of the plus points for Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk but the downside was an ankle injury suffered by Hamburg defender Joris Mathijsen.

Mathijsen will undergo further tests today but the initial prognosis was not good.

"We haven't had much luck lately," said Van Marwijk. "We know there is damage to the ankle ligaments. How great the damage is, is yet unknown."