Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hopeful Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky will make his long-awaited return to first-team action before Christmas.
Although he admits it is very difficult to say precisely when Tomas Rosicky will be fit to play again, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is optimistic the Czech Republic skipper will return by Christmas.
Rosicky, 28, joined the Gunners in May 2006 for £7million from Borussia Dortmund, but his career in North London has been plagued by injury.
He was forced to limp out of Arsenal’s 3-0 Barclays Premier League victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium last January, and he has not featured since. He was ruled out of his country’s participation in Euro 2008 because of the hamstring-related injury, and no comeback date has yet been set.
There were even rumours a few weeks ago that his career could be over because of the persistent problem.
Those suggestions were emphatically repudiated, but Wenger has called for patience regarding his crocked star. And he now feels the midfielder could be back in action by the turn of the year.
“I monitor Rosicky's progress very closely, but at the moment it is very difficult to put a date on his comeback,” Wenger told the Daily Mail.
“We are not pessimistic about the future of his career, but we still need more patience. If he comes back before Christmas we have done very well - but I think we can achieve that, so in December he can play again.”
The Arsenal manager is also hopeful that Brazilian-born Croatian striker Eduardo is on track for a faster-than-expected return from a broken leg, while central midfielder Abou Diaby should be fit again following a thigh injury by the time Premier League football resumes after the next international break.
Mark Hinton, Goal.com
