Wenger unsure about Arsenal strikers recovery

11:14am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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ARSENE WENGER has questioned whether striker Eduardo da Silva will ever recover mentally from his broken leg he suffered against Birmingham City in February.

The Arsenal boss is safe in the knowledge that the Brazilian-born player will make a full recovery from his injury, but has cast doubts over whether Eduardo will be able to block out the thought of it happening again.

"The medical profession say he (will) make a full physical recovery," Wenger said. "We don't believe physically there will be a problem afterwards, but how much impact it will have in his head when he sees the tackles flying in again only the future will tell us.

"We believe medically there is no problem - he will play again - but after that how well can he deal with it? He is a tough boy so I am confident he will deal with it."

The Croatia international is undergoing rehabilitation in his home town of Sao Paolo, although Wenger believes he is still nine months' away from returning to top form.

"At the moment we sent him to Sao Paolo, where he was born, where he can wait before he starts rehabilitation. There is a good physio there in Sao Paolo who he knows, and he is taking care of him. When he is ready to start training at the beginning of the season he will come back of course.

"We expect him to be out completely for six months but to play really at the top, top level, it will be nine months."