Arsenal & England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is aiming to be a stronger player as he plot his return from his latest injury layoff.
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The 21-year-old will miss England’s double header against Lithuania and Italy after suffering a hamstring strain during Arsenal’s FA Cup quarter-final win against Manchester United.
This is the latest setback for the youngster who has only recently returned from a groin injury, which caused him to miss six games for his club earlier in the year.
Chamberlain would have hoped he could push on and stake his claim for a regular starting spot for both club, and country and whilst he has impressed this campaign, question marks will continue to be raised over his long-term fitness.
Nevertheless he remains upbeat with regards to returning as a stronger player and admits he is still recovering from a bad knee injury that ruled him out for five months at the start of last season:
“I am all right, battling on.” he told the Express.
“Injuries and niggles are all part of the game. When you come back from a long-term injury like my knee, it is hard and almost surprising if you don’t experience some sort of knock-on effects from it.”
“I have experienced that – maybe more so because this season I have played more games and it can be difficult to stay on top of the niggles and manage them.” he added.
The midfielder could face a tough battle to regain his place in the Arsenal starting line-up upon his return, with the team in excellent form of late and the imminent returns of some key players in his position.