Wenger: Eduardo close to return

10:36pm Thursday 23rd October 2008

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed striker Eduardo could be back in contention for a first-team return "in three weeks".

The Croatia international has been sidelined since he suffered a broken leg at Birmingham in February.

"Eduardo is three weeks away from playing competitive football," Wenger told the club's official website, www.arsenal.com.

"What I mean by competitive football is joining in completely with a normal training session.

"After that he has to come back to match-fitness - but he is ahead of where we expected him to be and that is fantastic news."