Mikel Arteta delivers fitness update on Bukayo Saka as the Arsenal winger bids to return from three-month absence ahead of Real Madrid showdown

Mikel Arteta has issued an update on Bukayo Saka‘s injury status, as the Arsenal winger has missed almost three months of action with a hamstring issue. 

Saka, 23, suffered the injury on December 21 during Arsenal’s 5-1 thrashing of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. He then underwent surgery on December 29, with the recovery period being estimated at between 10 to 12 weeks.

But a month ago, it was reported that Saka would be out for a further eight weeks, which would place his return date some time in the middle of April. 

However, Arteta has revealed that his star man is already back on the grass doing individual drills, and that the next step is to involve Saka in competitive first-team training. 

He was able to return to light training during the club’s mid-season trip to Dubai last month, and has been completing his strength and conditioning training as normal. 

‘He is going to be here [at the Arsenal training ground], hopefully more with ball at his feet than he has had,’ Arteta said.

Saka has missed three months of action for Arsenal since he tore his hamstring in December

The 23-year-old is training individually but his next step is to take part in competitive training

‘That will mean he is passing the ball and shooting and running and everything. He has done quite a lot already on the pitch working on his own.

‘Next we need to arrange it with people around him in a more competitive training session and see how he goes with that.

‘He’s getting closer, he’s stepping up and making a very good progress I would say. So, let’s see when we start to throw him in with the team, how he reacts and how fit he can get quickly.’ 

Arsenal’s first leg against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final will come on April 8 at the Emirates Stadium. Eight days later, they travel to the Spanish capital for the second leg.

Based on his current recovery timeline, it will be a close call as to whether Saka will be back in time for either leg.

But if the Gunners do manage to progress to the semi-finals without him, it is likely that Saka will return for these fixtures, which come on April 29 and May 6.