[Photos] Injured Arsenal Star On Course For Early Return After Stepping Up Comeback

Injured Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy looks on course for an early return to action after posting some photos of him hitting the gym.

Debuchy has been on the sidelines since being stretchered off during the second half of our 2-2 draw with Manchester City on the 13th September.

The French international was forced to have surgery after it was confirmed he suffered damaged ankle ligaments after appearing to catch his studs in the turf while chasing a loose ball.

The 29-year-old was initially ruled out for three months by manager Arsene Wenger after going under the knife in late September which meant he wasn’t expected back until around the New Year.

However, it looks like Debuchy could be heading for an early comeback after he posted some photos of himself on Twitter hitting the gym for a workout session this week, with a message saying “Good session yesterday! Thanks for your messages”.

It’s not clear what the right-back’s recovery programme is but the fact he’s already doing strength building exercises and bike work in the gym indicates he could be back sooner than expected, while the Daily Star suggest he could make a first team return against former club Newcastle on December 13th.

We’ll have to wait and see how his rehabilitation progresses over the next few weeks but it would be a huge boost to have him back ahead of the hectic festive period over Christmas and New Year.

In his absence, Calum Chambers has predominantely filled-in at right-back but with Laurent Koscielny struggling with an Achilles injury, the 19-year-old is needed in the center of defence so Debuchy’s return would give us more options at the back.

Here are the photos he posted today:

Good session yesterday !! thanks for your messages pic.twitter.com/T6UZ6MarQU

— Mathieu debuchy (@MatDebuchy) October 28, 2014