Injury Boost As Arsenal Midfielder Returns To Training

Arsenal and England have been handed an injury boost with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning to full training ahead of the FA Cup final and World Cup in Brazil, according to reports today.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been hampered by a troublesome groin injury in recent weeks that’s seen him play just 17 minutes in Arsenal’s last four fixtures since he was forced off late on during our shoot-out victory over Wigan in the FA Cup semi final last month.

It was feared the midfielder might struggle to shake off the niggling injury in time to play any further part of Arsenal’s season, which would have put his World Cup hopes in serious doubt.

However, it seems both Arsenal and England have received a boost with the Mirror claiming that the 20-year-old is now back in training, and he could even feature at Wembley next week if he comes though the next few days without any adverse reaction.

Arsene Wenger stressed that the next three or four days will be key for the player and if he comes through unscathed, there’s no reason he can’t be named in Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad, which he announces on Monday.

Wenger said:

“If he gets over the next three or four days, he will be available. If he doesn’t, then we have to rest him and see. The next three or four days will be vital for him.

“He is desperate to go, and who wouldn’t be? But we are in a job where your body responds or it doesn’t respond. If it doesn’t respond… the body is always stronger. In the end, you need your body to play football.

“He can only go to the World Cup if he is completely fit. It wouldn’t be helpful for England for him to go there and not be 100% fit.” Wenger is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

Hopefully The Ox can get a full weeks training under his belt in the run up to the FA Cup final, as it would be a shame if he was to miss out after playing such a key role in the last few months while other players were out injured.

I’m sure Hodgson will name him in his preliminary squad on Monday and assess his fitness before taking a decision over his involvement in his final squad for this summers World Cup finals in Brazil.