TALKSPORT
Arsenal defender Ben White could be sidelined for up to 12 weeks after undergoing knee surgery, talkSPORT understands.
White went under the knife to correct a long-standing issue, having missed four games this season already due to a knee injury.
The 27-year-old had featured 12 times in all competitions for the Gunners.
talkSPORT understands White could miss six to 12 weeks of action.
A lengthy surgery lay-off would also be a major hitch in White’s international comeback plan.
talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham exclusively revealed White is expected to make a major U-turn and declare himself available once Thomas Tuchel begins his duties as England manager in January.
White left the Three Lions’ camp at the 2022 World Cup during the tournament after a disagreement with former assistant coach Steve Holland under Gareth Southgate.
But according to Durham, White will be able to take advantage of what promises to be a clean slate under Tuchel.
“I’ve heard from a very good source that Arsenal’s Ben White will be making himself available for selection in March,” Durham told talkSPORT on Wednesday.
“That will be when England play for the first time under Thomas Tuchel.
“I’m fascinated to see if Tuchel thinks ‘yes, I’ll have him straight back in, he’s a top four player, he’s playing regularly for Arsenal, so he gets straight back in’.
“Or, whether he says to himself ‘this is somebody who didn’t care about England, so no I’m not going to have him back in’.”
Should White’s recovery take up to 12 weeks, it would mean a return to action in early February.
It could leave White in a race against time to prove his fitness for the March international window, which lasts from March 20 to March 25.
However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta may want to wrap White in cotton wool for the final months of the season, with Gunners fans hopeful they will be in the title race at that stage.
