Eduardo eyes Croatia return

Fit again striker can't wait ro rejoin Croatian national squad

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 18th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Eduardo eyes Croatia return

Eduardo: Eyes Croatia return

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Arsenal striker Eduardo has admitted that he cannot wait to return to international football for his adopted country Croatia.

The Brazilian-born striker has not played since the horror tackle from Birmingham's Martin Taylor in February 2008 which left him with a compound fracture to his left fibula and a dislocated ankle.

The 25-year-old returned to action for Arsenal reserves earlier this week against Portsmouth but was withdrawn at half-time with a tight hamstring.

Eduardo has his sights set on a return for Croatia's friendly with Romania in February next year and expects to be back to his best for their World Cup qualifier against Andorra on April 1st.

The Arsenal ace has confessed that he missed the Croatian squad the most during his time on the sidelines but with 13 international goals from 22 games it appears his country have missed his firepower.

Without their star striker Slaven Bilic's side have found themselves second in their 2010 World Cup qualifying group five points behind leaders England.

"I can't wait to play my first match in a Croatia shirt," Eduardo told the Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti.

"I think it could be in February when we play Romania.

"During my ten months on the sidelines it was playing for Croatia I missed most."

Eduardo joined the Gunners from Dinamo Zagreb in 2007 and took Croatian nationality in 2002.