Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck’s return from injury has been further delayed by another setback.
According to BBC Sport, the England international will not be available again until at least February.
Welbeck, who joined Arsenal from Manchester United on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2014 for £16m – fee reported by The Guardian – has not played since April because of knee surgery.
BBC Sport adds that Wenger originally hoped the 25-year-old would make his comeback in September, and then revised his return date to Christmas, but now he will miss the festive fixtures.
And the Gunners boss, already without Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere among other injured players, admits that the news is a blow ahead of a period of eight games in 33 days.
“He is still not available because of a bone bruising,” the Frenchman is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. “That deteriorated and it is a big blow to us because we cannot rotate.”
This will also be a major worry for Welbeck ahead of Euro 2016. The 33-times capped forward has been a favourite of Roy Hodgson’s, but now has only a few months to force his way back into the squad.
And with Leicester City record-breaker Jamie Vardy and Tottenham Hotspur hero Harry Kane in fantastic form this season, competition for places in the striking ranks is really hotting up.
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