Arsenal loanee Pablo Mari could be back in action as soon as mid-January following surgery on a stab wound, according to a report from Italy.

Back in October, Pablo Mari was one of a number of people stabbed by a man whilst in a supermarket with his wife and child. Fortunately, all three escaped the incident with their lives, though Mari required surgery.

Initial reports suggested Mari would miss two-to-four months of action, with many assuming he wouldn’t be back before late-February.

But Gazzetta.it report that Mari’s recovery is progressing quickly, and at this pace, he could be back on the field just over a month from now, between January 14th and January 22nd.

The player is working on a treadmill, doing lower-body exercises, and he’s recently been back in his home country of Spain to continue with his rehab.

In Mari’s absence, Monza have had mixed results, with a couple of wins and a couple of defeats. But they sit nine points and four places clear of the relegation zone, which is the important part.

Avoiding relegation is the primary goal for Monza this season, having been promoted from Serie B earlier this year. But it’s also an important factor for Mari’s long-term future.

Mari has a clause in his loan deal that makes his loan permanent under certain conditions, and the key one of those is that Monza must avoid relegation.

So if Monza continue to stay clear of the drop, the defender will move to Italy permanently. A speedy return to full fitness would surely aid that pursuit.