Ex-England boss Sam Allardyce has claimed on talkSPORT that Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck will soon be back playing again.
The 27-year-old was carried off on a stretcher in the first half of the Gunners’ 0-0 Europa League draw against Sporting Lisbon and Unai Emery subsequently admitted it is a “very big” injury amid fears he could miss the rest of the season.
But Allardyce delivered a very optimistic verdict on the ankle problem sustained by Welbeck and suggested he could be playing “very shortly”.
“The orthopaedic surgeons today, the way they treat the players and can put the ankle back in place, the right rehab, he should be back very shortly,” Allardyce told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on Friday.
“It’s not really a threat to his career, for me. We wish him very well because he’s a terrific player. The most important thing for Danny is getting 100 per cent fit and playing football at the highest level again.”
Danny Welbeck suffered a horrific injury last night…
…but Sam Allardyce believes the forward will be back playing sooner rather than later and still has a good career ahead of him!
Wishing you a speedy recovery, @DannyWelbeck ? pic.twitter.com/mxhcuTb31D
— talkSPORT Breakfast (@TSBreakfast) November 9, 2018
OPINION
Back shortly, Sam? While the experienced manager knows the recovery rates of modern footballers very well, given the access they have to the best medical and rehabilitation facilities, it certainly didn’t look like Welbeck would be in action any time soon following his devastating blow. Unai Emery certainly wasn’t talking in the aftermath of the match as a man who expected the England forward to feature much again this season. With his contract due to expire next summer, there must now be serious doubt as to whether Welbeck will ever wear the red-and-white jersey again. The scorer of 32 goals and 15 assists from 126 Arsenal matches is unlikely to get a new Gunners deal but a January transfer is unlikely, given that he would not be able to prove his fitness to potential employers by that point. Allardyce knows his onions, but he is being ridiculously optimistic by claiming Welbeck will soon be back in action.