Arsenal defender William Saliba could return before the end of October, according to a new report identifying Everton and Fleetwood as possible comeback fixtures.
TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey reports that Saliba’s rehabilitation has progressed positively, although the club remain cautious about bringing him back too quickly.
The report names Everton’s visit on 24 October and the Carabao Cup trip to Fleetwood on 27 October as potential opportunities. Neither represents a confirmed return date.
William Saliba injury return could come earlier than expected
TEAMtalk claims Saliba would ideally like to feature against Bayern Munich on 21 October, but Arsenal are considering the later fixtures more cautiously.
That is a more optimistic projection than the November window referenced in yesterday’s report on Saliba returning to running, which drew on L’Equipe coverage.
An earlier report attributed to Fabrice Hawkins had suggested December as a possibility if recovery went well.
These are differing media assessments, rather than a sequence of officially revised club deadlines. Arsenal have not announced a comeback date in the reporting cited.
What an October return would mean for Arteta
Even a limited return towards the end of the month would give Mikel Arteta another option during a demanding run.
Arsenal’s next five fixtures include Leeds, Lille, Nottingham Forest, Bayern and Everton.
However, being available for an appearance would not automatically mean Saliba could immediately resume a full workload.
The significant development is the possibility of an earlier comeback. Confirmation of his readiness for competitive football remains the key step.
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