“Bukayo has returned from injury but he might not still play against Real Madrid for those reasons”: Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka will not play against Real Madrid for TWO reasons
Premier League giants Arsenal are hopeful of having a leading member of the club’s attacking ranks back fit and available for their upcoming meeting with Real Madrid.
That’s according to John Cross of The Mirror, who points towards Bukayo Saka as the player in question.
Wide-man Saka, for his part, has been sidelined since all the way back in December, owing to a serious hamstring injury.
In under a month, Real Madrid will lock horns with Premier League giants Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
The Gunners breezed past PSV Eindhoven in the Round of 16 to set up a date with Real Madrid, who scraped through via a penalty shootout against neighbours Atletico Madrid.
Heading into the game, though, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has to deal with a lengthy injury list with a number of players unlikely to make it in time.
Bukayo Saka wants to return in time for Real Madrid clash
Now, according to the Daily Mirror, one of those injured stars, Bukayo Saka is eyeing a return in time for Arsenal’s quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid.
The 23-year-old winger suffered a torn hamstring in December, before Christmas, and had to undergo surgery.
The recovery was always expected to take around three months and now Saka is entering the final phase of that period.
Arsenal are hopeful that the England international will continue to make good progress over the next ten days, so that he can return to the bench for their Premier League clash against Fulham right after the international break.
Arteta’s men are also scheduled to take on Everton on April 5, before they face off against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 8.
Before his injury, Saka had racked up a tally of nine goals and 13 assists from 24 appearances in all competitions.
If he returns in time to face Real Madrid, it will be a major boost for Arsenal, considering how important he is for Arteta’s plans.
