Walcott and Eduardo return

Duo named in squad for Burnley clash

Last updated: 5th March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Walcott and Eduardo return

Walcott: Set to return

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Theo Walcott and Eduardo will be included in the Arsenal squad for Sunday's FA Cup fifth round meeting with Burnley at Emirates Stadium.

Walcott has not featured since dislocating his shoulder while on international duty with England ahead of their friendly with Germany in November.

Croatia striker Eduardo made an emotional return from his horrific leg break with two goals in last month's FA Cup victory over Cardiff before he suffered a hamstring injury in the same match.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed the duo are in his plans to face the Clarets but will wait until nearer kick-off before deciding if they will make the starting XI.

"I will see how they (Walcott and Eduardo) look tomorrow and Saturday but they will certainly be in the squad, especially Theo," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

"We have to wait and see how Eduardo reacts and responds to his injury."

Kolo Toure will miss the clash after he suffered a calf injury in the midweek win over West Brom but Wenger is hopeful that William Gallas will be fit to return after he missed the Hawthorns fixture with an ankle problem.

Optimistic

Ivory Coast international Toure has been pencilled in to tackle Roma in the second leg of the Gunners' UEFA Champions League last-16 meeting next week, but striker Emmanuel Adebayor will not feature in the Italian capital on Wednesday due to his hamstring injury.

Wenger added: "We are quite optimistic about Kolo but we have to assess the situation today completely. I don't think I will involve him on Sunday. But Gallas should be back for Sunday and it looks to be like Kolo will be back for next week [against Roma].

"Adebayor is definitely out for Sunday and for Roma too."

The Frenchman is set to make changes to his squad for the FA Cup clash, but has warned his side they cannot afford to be distracted by the forthcoming European clash.

"Sunday is a big game for us and rotation will be there for some players who have played full games," said Wenger. "(Lukasz) Fabianski will continue in goal and we will try to have a good balance, a good quality.

"The most important thing for us is not to think about Roma, but to focus on this game and qualify. The best way to deal with the next game is to win this one."