Emile Smith Rowe has returned to training with Arsenal after his recent injury, linking up with the squad ahead of their trip to Eindhoven.
Emile Smith Rowe has been out of action with a knee injury since October, suffering a setback in the victory over Sheffield United.
There was little clarity on the exact timeframe of Smith Rowe’s absence at first, but reports a couple of weeks ago suggested the midfielder was in with a shot of a return within the fortnight.
It appears that may be the case, with Smith Rowe joining Arsenal’s first-team squad in training at London Colney on Monday.
Tom Canton reports that Smith Rowe has recovered from the knee injury that was keeping him out of action, but whether he travels to Eindhoven with the squad today is yet to be decided.
The outcome of the training session on Monday will inform whether the 23-year-old is involved on the trip.
Arsenal travel to the Netherlands with little to play for, having already topped their Champions League group. But there’s money at stake, with UEFA paying €2.8m for a group-stage win, €930k for a draw, and nothing for a defeat.
There are also coefficient points at stake, which could be important given the potential for a fifth Champions League qualification spot for English clubs this season.
Arsenal are unlikely to play their very strongest side, and given that PSV have already confirmed their spot as group runners-up, they’ll also probably rotate a little.
But that could make it a good opportunity for Smith Rowe to get some minutes, if he proves his fitness in Monday’s session.