Arsenal hopes hit as Welbeck suffers fresh injury setback

Danny Welbeck: Setback is likely to mean more game time for Olivier Giroud

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck is now expected to be sidelined until February after reportedly being forced to shelve his return from injury by a further month.

The England international is yet to feature for the Gunners this season after suffering a serious knee injury.

Welbeck underwent knee surgery in September and had been expected to return early next month.

But reports on Tuesday morning suggested he now won’t be available until February at the earliest – leaving him less time to secure a place in Roy Hodgson’s squad for next summer’s European Championships, where he faces strong competition from the likes of Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and Theo Walcott.

Arsenal were on Monday handed a last-16 tie against Barcelona in the Champions League and Welbeck will hope to play his part in the games against the Catalans, with the first legs scheduled to take place on 16-17 and 23-24 February with the return legs on 8-9 and 15-16 March.