Arsene Wenger rules out 'miracle' World Cup return for Arsenal forward Theo Walcott

 
REUTERS
Tom Dutton11 January 2014

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out any suggestion that Theo Walcott could make a ‘miracle’ recovery and feature at the summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

Former Rangers man Professor Gordon Mackay had said he could get the England forward back playing within four months, but Wenger has refuted the claims.

"There are always people who (claim to) make miracles, but when you make more enquiries they never had surgeries of a football player who is a top athlete to prove their statement is right," said the Arsenal manager.

"We have enough experience on cruciate (ligament injuries) to know that the minimum time is six months to come back."

Wenger has backed his player to return fighting fit and believes Walcott’s age serves as an advantage in his bid to return later this year at the same standard.

Wenger added: "We know deep studies show that the players around 25 with that kind of injury, they come back as normal. When you are over 30, over 29, you do not ever come back exactly the same, but between 25 and 28 you come back to the level you had before.

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