Arsenal attacker Emile Smith Rowe could reportedly make his return from groin surgery in time for Monday's FA Cup showdown with Oxford United.
The 22-year-old has been on the sidelines since September after going under the knife to address the problem, which had been plaguing him for a number of months.
Smith Rowe aggravated the issue during Arsenal's 3-1 defeat to Manchester United on September 4, where he played 16 minutes as a substitute before pulling up in the warm-down.
The England international has now missed Arsenal's last 16 matches in all competitions, but he has been stepping up his recovery over the past few weeks.
Smith Rowe travelled with the Arsenal squad to Dubai during the World Cup break, and he has also been pictured with the ball back at his feet at London Colney since the New Year.
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Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League came too soon for Smith Rowe to return, but according to the Evening Standard, there is slight confidence that he could be back on January 9.
The report adds that Smith Rowe only has an "outside chance" of being a part of the matchday squad for the trip to Oxford, but the Gunners will make a decision on the playmaker over the weekend.
While Mikel Arteta is understandably keen to welcome Smith Rowe back into the fold, the Spaniard is not prepared to take any unnecessary risks over his fitness.
Furthermore, Smith Rowe is unlikely to be thrown straight back into the starting lineup for Monday's game and could earn minutes off the bench in his first few matches back while he builds up his fitness.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in an Arsenal jersey during the 2021-22 campaign, scoring 10 goals in 33 Premier League games and forcing his way into the England squad.
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However, the form of Gabriel Martinelli and Smith Rowe's groin issue restricted the latter to just four substitute outings in the Premier League this season prior to his September surgery.
The return of Smith Rowe would slightly ease Arsenal's injury woes in the final third, with both Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson sidelined with knee and hamstring issues respectively.
Arsenal have sought to address their attacking problems by bidding for Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is understood to have been the subject of two offers from the Gunners already.
Shakhtar have publicly stated that they are after a fee of at least £85m to part ways with Mudryk, and Arsenal are reportedly now facing intense competition from Chelsea for the 21-year-old's services.
Nevertheless, Mudryk is still understood to prefer a switch to Arsenal and has supposedly told Shakhtar that he wants to move to the Emirates.
Ben Knapton
