Saka on track for Arsenal return after three-month layoff

Yesterday at 02:06 PM

All going well, Bukayo Saka will be part of Arsenal's squad to face Fulham in the first game after the Interlull, with the winger set to return to first-team training next week.

The England international has been sidelined for three months after undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury suffered in November's 5-1 win over Crystal Palace.

In his absence, the 23-year-old has missed 18 matches, during which time the Gunners’ title challenge has faltered and they've been knocked out of both the FA Cup and League Cup.

Hopes of silverware now rest on the Champions League and, as a starting point, overcoming Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

It remains to be seen whether Saka will be fit enough to start when the 15-time winners visit the Emirates for the first leg on 8th April, but if his recovery progresses as planned over the next three weeks, he'll certainly be in contention.

Asked about the winger's next steps in recovery, Mikel Arteta said: "He’s going to be here, hopefully more with the ball at his feet than in his hands.

“That would mean that he’s passing the ball and shooting and running and everything.

“He’s done quite a lot already on the pitch, everything on his own, that’s true.

“The next [step] is to reintegrate with people around him, with players around him and a more competitive training session and see how he goes with that."

While Ethan Nwaneri has been a welcome addition to Mikel Arteta’s starting lineups, there’s no doubt that Saka’s return will be a major boost heading into the final weeks of the season.

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