Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson is set to return to first-team training on Monday after a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
He has had a somewhat stop-start Arsenal career. The right-back was bought from Charlton Athletic back in 2011, in what was somewhat of a surprise transfer. Since then the fullback has struggled to cement his place at Arsenal due to the emergence of Hector Bellerin and the Englishman spent a season and a half on loan at fellow London club, West Ham.
Jenkinson will find the presence of Hector Bellerin as a significant obstacle in his route into the Arsenal first team but the 24-year-old is likely to be the Spaniard’s deputy.
His first task though will be to displace Mathieu Debuchy as second choice, and he will have until January to potentially force the Frenchman out, and if he cannot, then a potential loan move could be his best route to playing regular football.
Although after watching how Arsenal played at the weekend in their 3-0 win over Chelsea, it is no surprise that Jenkinson can’t wait to get out on the training pitch again. The 24-year-old revealed on his Twitter account that he would join full training on Monday after recovering from the injury he suffered while playing for West Ham United in January. He tweeted:
Back in full training tomorrow… Feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve 🙈😂
— Carl Jenkinson (@carljenkinson) September 25, 2016
Arsenal’s twitter account then wished him on his return to first team training.
All the best Carl – looking forward to having you back https://t.co/TKcizARCsp
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 25, 2016
Jenkinson is contracted with the Gunners until the summer of 2018 and has scored just one goal for the club in his time spent under Arsene Wenger, which came in an away victory to Norwich City.
The 24-year-old could return to first team action against Reading in the fourth round of the EFL Cup next month, a fixture he is well acquainted with, having played a part in a historic 7-5 win for the Gunners two years ago, coming back from four goals down in the first half.
The attack-minded full-back will add strength in depth to the Gunners squad but it remains to be seen whether Arsene Wenger opts to loan him out again this term.
Would you like him to stay and fight for the position or want him to go out on loan in the winter transfer window and come back with plenty of game time under his belt?
