Van Persie boost for Arsenal's Euro hopes with Dutchman to return to training

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The Dutch striker, who has played just three games in five months because of a combination of injuries, returns to first-team training tomorrow and has been pencilled in to start the League match away to Wigan on Sunday week.

But if he responds well to training, there is an outside chance he could make the bench for Saturday's home game against Aston Villa and Tuesday's Champions League showdown in Milan, which is delicately poised at 0-0 after the first leg.

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Sidelined: Van Persie (centre) hasn't played for the Gunners since the Carling Cup semi-final first leg in early January

Though the match at the San Siro is likely to be too early for the 24-year-old to start, Van Persie is hopeful of at least featuring in Arsenal's 18-man squad.

Arsene Wenger has promised not to rush Van Persie's comeback after a series of setbacks in his recovery from injury. The Dutchman initially injured his knee on international duty last October, but then succumbed to a muscular injury before sustaining a thigh strain.

The horrific broken leg suffered by fellow striker Eduardo means Van Persie is in line for an earlier-than-expected recall, but Theo Walcott is also ready to fill the striking void left by the Croatian.

The teenager, who scored his first two Premier League goals last weekend, said: "I feel upbeat, I feel confident. The goals helped and they gave me a boost, so hopefully I can take that into Saturday.

"It was nice to get a poacher's goal. My agents have told me I need more of those. Then the second was more about the kind of player I am. Left foot too, which is something people have questioned me about.

"Now I just have to improve with every game and time will tell [if I can fill the striker's role]."

Walcott also reflected on the sombre mood of the squad in the aftermath of the injury suffered by Eduardo, who faces nine months out of the game after breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle against Birmingham.

"Of course he has been on our minds," said Walcott. "We even went bowling to get our spirits up. And we want to be there for him the whole time he is recovering."