By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is set to make his return from a lengthy injury layoff when his team host Fulham in the Premier League on Tuesday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Monday that “Bukayo is ready to go” and could even start the game.
Saka underwent hamstring surgery after suffering the issue in December, but has stepped up his comeback in training and is in line to feature at the Emirates Stadium.
His availability is timely with the two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid set to begin next week.
“Bukayo is ready to go,” said Arteta. “All the careful things he’s already done, so now it’s about putting him on the grass in the right moments.
“He’s pushing because he really wants it. We have to respect the time frame, but we have done everything and we even had to hold him back.
“It’s another massive weapon that we have. We know the impact that he’s had on the team and how important his role and his contribution is to our success, so great to have him back.”
Arsenal host Real Madrid in the first leg of the last-eight tie next Tuesday, before travelling to the Spanish capital a week later after a league fixture against Brentford.
Their title challenge has faded in the absence of Saka and a host of other forwards, with Arteta’s side sitting 12 points behind leaders Liverpool and requiring a significant slip-up to get back in the chase.