Robin van Persie has reportedly flown to the Netherlands for treatment from one of Europe's top surgeons, as he tries to salvage his hopes of playing in this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

The Manchester United forward scored a match-winning hat-trick against Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday, but his exploits were overshadowed by an ankle injury, which saw him stretchered off at Old Trafford.

However, despite the striker being told that he would sit out the remainder of the season, The Mirror claims that the original prognosis that Van Persie would be out for four to six weeks may have been optimistic and has led the 30-year-old to fly to his homeland in a bid to be fit for the tournament in June.

He is reportedly being treated by Rein Heijboer, who has worked with the United forward previously as well as Paris Saint-Germain attacker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Van Persie is said to have been urged by Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal to take time with his recovery.