Arsenal summer signing Jurrien Timber recently returned to full training, but it may be some time before he can return to first-team action.
The Dutchman joined from Ajax for around £34m in the summer, and instantly impressed as a left-back in the Community Shield victory against Manchester City.
However, the defender was dealt a massive blow as he picked up a cruciate ligament injury on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest, which looked set to keep him out for the majority of the campaign.
With nine league games, and a minimum of two Champions League matches remaining this season, it is unclear whether he will feature at all to step up his recovery, but Mikel Arteta has now given a positive update on his injury.
Mikel Arteta gives Jurrien Timber injury update ahead of Arsenal return
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Luton Town on Wednesday night, Arteta revealed that whilst Timber still has some way to go, he could yet feature this season.
“He’s doing very well, he’s back training. He’s not far off, but the thing is that last step, he hasn’t played any minutes so does he need a game with the under-21s, does he need two games? We are going to have to see, especially because he’s training with us and we need to see how long that will take him,” he stated.
“That last part is tricky and sometimes takes a while. Hopefully, as soon as possible.
“I think he has a good chance (of playing this season). I don’t know the percentage, but I think he has a good chance and he’s going to push it as far as he possibly can.”
Arsenal do not need to rush Jurrien Timber back from injury
Arsenal are now over their shortage of options at full-back. Ben White is in outstanding form on the right, and Takehiro Tomiyasu is back from injury.
Jakub Kiwior has filled in well on the left, with Oleksandr Zinchenko also back in contention, and Arteta has plenty of options at his disposal.
Whilst it would be good to have someone of Timber’s quality in the team, there is little urgency to rush him back and risk further injury. It may even be possible to leave him out of the team, and give him a full pre-season to recover, if the club deem it important to give him more time to find full fitness.