Arsenal forward Kai Havertz is set to be sidelined until early to mid-January following the setback he suffered last month in his rehabilitation from minor knee surgery.
The striker has been out of action since suffering a knee injury against Manchester United in the Gunners’ first game of the Premier League season on August 17.
That required Havertz to have surgery on his knee a week later.
Daily Mail Sport understands that in November, the 26-year-old was one week away from returning to a matchday squad before picking up an issue in his final training sessions.
The German is now aiming to be match-squad ready by the middle of next month; he has yet to return to training since his setback.
There is a chance of Havertz making the Arsenal squad for their January 8 league match against Liverpool, though the FA Cup third-round match against Portsmouth three days later is more likely.
Havertz has been plagued by injuries this year, having torn his hamstring in the north London club’s warm weather camp in February last season.
The Gunners more broadly have had an injury crisis of late. This month saw the return of a number of absentees, including Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and William Saliba.
Yet the club now have Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White and Max Dowman all on the sidelines currently.
