Welbeck nears injury after returning to training
Danny Welbeck is closing on another injury after returning to full Arsenal training on Tuesday.
According to Jeremy Wilson, the Daily Telegraph’s Deputy Football Correspondent, Welbeck will return from a long-term knee injury to take part in his first full training session for Arsenal since May.
Welbeck has not featured for the Gunners so far this season after suffering the injury in the latter part of last campaign, but it is thought that he will offer Arsene Wenger a boost with his imminent return.
Wilson adds that Welbeck will not be challenging for a first-team spot ‘for at least another two weeks’, with the under-21 fixture against Brighton on February 5 tentatively penciled in as his comeback.
There is more positive injury news for the Gunners from Wilson, with Francis Coquelin nearing a return from his own knee injury. The French midfielder has been out since November, but ‘has a surprise chance’ of playing against Burnley in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday. Arsenal need him back.
THE WELBECK TIMELINE
* May 4, 2015: Arsene Wenger confirms Danny Welbeck will not face Hull due to an ‘inflammation’ of the knee. “Yes, I think so,” Wenger replied when asked if Welbeck will return before the end of the season.
* May 28, 2015: Wenger insists Welbeck has not suffered a setback in his recovery after missing the FA Cup final, adding that it “just took longer than expected”.
* July 9: Welbeck does not travel with the Arsenal squad on a pre-season tour of Singapore due to the injury.
* July 24: Wenger confirms Welbeck is yet to return to full training, saying: “He will be short for the start of the season in two weeks, but three weeks should be all right.”
* August 6: Wenger says Welbeck is “not too far away” from a return.
* August 14: “He is not close because he has not started full training,” Wenger says of Welbeck. “I will say at least three weeks from today.”
* August 27: Wenger reports that Welbeck “is progressing well”, and “should be available” after the international break.
* September 3: It is revealed, the day after the summer transfer window closed, that Welbeck has undergone knee surgery. He is ruled out for “a period of months“. Wenger reacts angrily over claims that he “lied” about the England striker’s status.
* September 9: Reports claim that Welbeck could return before Christmas.
* December 15: Reports claim that Welbeck has suffered another setback and could return as late as February.
* January 8: Wenger confirms that Welbeck will be “three to four weeks”.
