Arsenal Handed Injury Boost as Winger on Track for January Return – Report

Arsenal have been handed an injury boost after winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started running this week and is expected to make a comeback in January, according to the Daily Mail.

Chamberlain was stretchered out on the first day of the season in a 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa at the Emirates. He strained his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a 50-50 tackle with Antonio Luna.

The 20-year-old is making healthy progress while spending time in rehabilitation. After spending weeks in the gym, there is no doubt Chamberlain will be thrilled to get back to the Gunners' first team. The news of his recovery will be a momentous boost for the player and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman knows he will require every player available at his disposal as the fixture list continues to pile up in the coming weeks while desperately aiming to end Arsenal's run of eight seasons without winning a trophy.

Arsenal's medical staff are no strangers to career-threatening injuries, having treated the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo da Silva in the past. Wenger and his team will be very cautious and not rush Chamberlain into action while targeting a January return for the Southampton academy graduate.

The winger has been a regular for the national side since making his debut in 2012. Roy Hodgson will be hopeful of including the Portsmouth born winger into the Three Lions' squad as he looks to lead them to glory in the World Cup 2014 at Brazil.

Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson is hoping to regularly feature in their push for the Premier League title. The Gunners are four points clear of second placed Chelsea on top of the table with 34 points from 13 games after beating Hull City at the Emirates.

The 21-year-old started his first league match since October 2013 and played a vital role in assisting Nicklas Bendtner during the Gunners' 2 - 0 victory against the Tigers.

"It is nice for me to get a game. I want to be involved in this journey we are on at the moment. The way the back four has been playing lately, I've had to just sit back and admire it really. They have been fantastic," Jenkinson explained.