Bilic wants Eduardo at finals

Croatia wait on Wenger's decision

Last updated: 24th March 2008

Croatia Slaven Bilic

Bilic: Wants striker at finals

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Croatia coach Slaven Bilic is hoping Arsenal will allow injured striker Eduardo da Silva to join up with the squad for this summer's Euro 2008.

Eduardo has been ruled out of the finals after suffering a horrific broken leg following a tackle by Martin Taylor against Birmingham last month.

The Brazilian-born striker is currently recuperating after undergoing surgery and he is expected to be sidelined for up to nine months.

Bilic says Eduardo is determined to join the squad in Austria & Switzerland and that all the players want to see the 25-year-old as part of their group.

"I am speaking to him every couple of days and the players are really close to him and are talking to him as well," Bilic told Sky Sports News.

"He is recovering well and in a couple of weeks he will go to Brazil as they have one of the best rehab centres in the world.

"He is going to be back, definitely, but of course it will take some time."

Wish

Bilic is hoping to get the green light from Arsenal to allow Eduardo to continue his rehab with the Croatia squad at Euro 2008.

"It is the players' wish [that he travels to Euro 2008] and his wish as well," added Bilic. "We would probably want him from day one but Eduardo is Arsenal's player.

"If we can find some solution because in that period he will be at the stage where he can do some running and he can do it with our physios and doctors because we have a really good medical department.

"We want him to come, he wants to [come] but Mr Wenger will decide."