Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles close to return from broken leg

Comeback trail | Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Michael Regan/Getty Images
James Olley13 September 2018

Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a broken leg and could return to full training early next month.

The 21-year-old suffered a small fracture to his left fibula in the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat by Manchester City on the season’s opening weekend and was expected to be ruled out until November.

However, the club confirmed this morning that Maitland-Niles is “progressing well” and is expected to resume training with the first-team sooner than anticipated. Head coach Unai Emery is short of left-back options - having used Maitland-Niles there against City - and Nacho Monreal is the only fit specialist option available. But Sead Kolasinac is also closing in on a comeback, with the club’s medical staff optimistic he will also start full training in early October.

Alex Iwobi is available for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle after missing the 3-2 win over Cardiff with an illness.

Lucas Torreira should be available despite being substituted at half-time for Uruguay against Mexico with what appeared to be a calf injury. Emery must weigh up whether to start Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for only the second time since taking charge after both players impressed in Cardiff.

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