Mikel Merino’s recovery from surgery on his foot is progressing well but reports in Spain continue to claim that he will be touch and go for the World Cup this summer.
There has been no mention from Arsenal that Mikel Merino’s foot injury, which has kept him out of action since January and required surgery, has ended his season.
Reading the media in Spain, however, that has been clear for a couple of months.
The injury, which has been described as ‘rare’ by both Mikel Arteta and Merino’s father, is apparently healing well and, according to the last update Arteta gave a couple of weeks ago, he is out of his protective boot.
Still, Sport in Spain believe that it is far from certain that he will be fit for the World Cup this summer, despite Spain manager Luis De La Fuente being prepared to wait until the last possible moment to include him, such is his importance.
Sport writes, “Merino suffered a major bone injury that forced him to undergo surgery. The recovery is on the right track and De la Fuente is going to wait for him until the last moment, but today his presence cannot be totally assured.”
Merino has already missed 18 matches for Arsenal and, with injuries to other midfielders.
With six goals and three assists before his injury, he has been sorely missed.
- Tuchel & Rice provide updates on his injury substitutionDeclan Rice came off earlier than planned in England’s win over Croatia on Wednesday, but Thomas Tuchel and the player himself have provided positive updates on his injury.
- Mikel Merino: I’ve been managing my workloadThe Arsenal midfielder said he is “fine” and urged Spain not to panic after their World Cup draw with Cape Verde. Mikel Merino has said he is “fine” after seemingly missing training, or part of training, with Spain, explaining that his absence was part of a workload-management plan rather than a fresh injury concern or…
- Injured Arsenal international set for World Cup start after returning to trainingArsenal and France fans received good news on Saturday, as William Saliba finally returned to training with his national team ahead of their World Cup campaign.
- Arsenal international misses pre-World Cup training with ongoing injuryWilliam Saliba has now missed multiple France training sessions, in a worrying sign following previous reports on his ongoing injury problem.
- Saka injured but will start World Cup anywayBukayo Saka is still managing an Achilles injury, but Thomas Tuchel plans to start him in England’s World Cup opener.