adminLONDON. — Arsene Wenger has received a double fitness boost ahead of Arsenal’s English Premiership soccer home clash with Southampton on Saturday. Midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been cleared by medical staff to train after a tight hamstring forced him out of Wales’ friendly international with Finland last Saturday, while the league leaders’ winger Theo Walcott has also resumed full training and is set to return after a six week lay-off with a stomach problem.
Gunners manager Wenger has been concerned about Ramsey for several weeks and wanted to give him a rest, fearing he had been exhausted by his explosive goal-scoring start to the season.
But Ramsey’s self-imposed break has recharged his batteries and Walcott is also refreshed.
Team-mate Lukas Podolski, recovering from a hamstring injury, is also hoping to be back before the end of the month.
But while the Gunners are approaching a return to full fitness, title rivals Manchester United are facing an injury crisis of their own.
Meanwhile, John Henry will lay on his own private jet to ensure Luis Suarez is ready for take off at the Merseyside derby.
The Liverpool striker was due to return to England on Friday from international duty — less than 24 hours before the bitter showdown with the club’s eternal rivals Everton.
Suarez was expected to lead his nation into a World Cup play off against Jordan in a game in Montevideo late last night. And that has prompted principal owner Henry to offer the use of his own plane, which will jet from his Boston home to South America to bring Suarez back to Merseyside a crucial day earlier.
The striker has been in the form of his life since returning from a 10 match ban for biting , but even his avowed resilience will be put to the test in the heat of a Mersey derby, after flying 17 000 miles in less than two weeks for the two qualifiers.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has explained how Suarez constantly amazes coaches by never seemingly affected by jet lag, but even he has concerns over the latest trip, and Henry’s offer of help should at least give him time to recover before the 2:45pm kick-off on Saturday.
The American owner has been thrilled by Liverpool’s start to the season, and he is desperate to maintain their successful run, to keep them in the title hunt until the January transfer window opens. — The Mirror.
Online Reporter