Klaas Jan Huntelaar cut a frustrated figure after being forced out of the Netherlands' UEFA EURO 2012 double-header against Hungary with a knee injury.

Huntelaar was last night sent back to his club side Schalke after failing to prove his fitness for the Group E clashes in Budapest on Friday and the return in Amsterdam four days later with veteran Ruud van Nistelrooy, as expected, named as his replacement. Theo Janssen and Arjen Robben have also pulled out with Jeremain Lens and Luuk de Jong called up.

But it might be the loss of Huntelaar, who has scored ten times in his last six international appearances, which is most keenly felt by national coach Bert van Marwijk and the former Real Madrid and AC Milan man is disappointed he cannot continue his rich vein of form for Oranje.

He told De Telegraaf: "My knee is still not stable enough. The doctor gave me the red light. The injury I have normally takes four to six weeks to heal but I expected to be back in training in 14 days.

"In the past I have always recovered faster than expected but I have now been sidelined for three weeks. It sucks because I have done well in the last few Holland games but I am going to have to go back and focus on my recovery."