Skip to main content

Eduardo set to return after horror injury

  • Story Highlights
  • Eduardo hopes to return to first team action with Arsenal later this year
  • Croatian striker ahead of schedule in his recovery from horrific leg injuries
  • Eduardo sustained injuries in tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor in February
  • Arsenal teammate Tomas Rosicky set to return after injury in September
  • Next Article in World Sport »
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

(CNN) -- Arsenal striker Eduardo could return to first team action before the end of the year after making a quicker than expected recovery from a horror injury.

Eduardo is stretchered off after sustaining serious injuries in the match against Birmingham.

The Croatian international was spotted jogging around the pitch at the Premier League side's Emirates Stadium on Tuesday and gave an upbeat assessment of his comeback.

"I hope that I will know exactly how long it will take me to be back in training with my team-mates," he told the Press Association.

"I want to find out, as well, when they think I can play again. My hope is that it will be before Christmas."

Eduardo was predicted to be out for more than a year after suffering a double compound fracture of the left leg in a tackle from Birmingham's Martin Taylor in February.

It left him with a fractured fibula and he also sustained an open dislocation of his ankle joint.

The injury shocked his teammates and there were fears that he would never play again, but the 25-year-old never gave up hope.

"Every day I dream about when I get back on to the football pitch. But I am in no rush. I am still finishing some parts of my treatment that will be done here at Arsenal."

Eduardo's absence undermined Arsenal's title challenge in England and he was also missed by Croatia in their Euro 2008 campaign.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger received another pre-season boost as it emerged that Czech Republic playmaker Thomas Rosicky should be back in September following knee surgery.

  • E-mail
  • Save
  • Print