By DAN KARELL
Arsenal have received a big mid-season boost with the return of Aaron Ramsey to the match-day squad.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday that Ramsey has fully recovered from his third hamstring injury of the season, and is available to feature against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Wednesday.
We have Aaron Ramsey back in the squad and from Everton, I don’t think we lost anybody,” Wenger said, via the Guardian. “We will check with the medical people whether he will be available or not, but there is no reason why he should not be available.
“With a repetition of muscular injury it can put a little bit of a handbrake on your body and to get rid of that is a psychological problem. Looking at him in training, I don’t think he suffers from that, but you lose a bit of confidence in your body.”
Ramsey has scored five goals in 24 games but he’s been in and out of the lineup all season due to injuries, failing to fully establish a rhythm. His last game was on Feb. 10, where he lasted only 11 minutes off the bench.
Here are some more stories to catch up on from around the world:
INTER IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH ICARDI OVER NEW CONTRACT
Mauro Icardi has been one of the revelations of the 2014/2015 Serie A season, and Inter Milan are already deep in talks to ensure that Icardi remains at the club.
According to reports in Italy, Icardi is being offered a new contract with a yearly salary of around €2.8 million. That salary could fluctuate though depending on what the final number is settled on for the player’s image rights, the reports state.
Icardi is second in Serie A this season with 14 goals, and he’s scored another five goals in cup competitions, including four goals in Inter’s Europa League campaign.
STROOTMAN REJECTS REPORTS OF KNEE INJURY BEING CAREER THREATENING
Kevin Strootman’s 2014/2015 season looks like it’s over, but the player doesn’t believe his career is done at the young age of 25.
The AS Roma midfielder sent out a series of tweets on his official Twitter profile on Tuesday morning, rejecting reports that his injured knee is threatening to end his career, and revealing that he believes he’ll be fully healed by the start of preseason for the 2015/2016 season.
The Netherlands international has played seven times this season, after he came back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that he suffered in March 2014. Last January, he suffered a new knee injury that had to be operated on, and will likely end Strootman’s season.
QUICK KICKS
Former Tottenham, Derby County, and Hearts midfielder Dave Mackay passed away on Monday at the age of 80. (REPORT)
Ajax forward Lasse Schöne has extended his contract for two more seasons. (REPORT)
Marseille forward Michy Batshuayi has pledged his international future to his birth nation of Belgium, where he’s played for their youth teams, instead of accepting a call-up to his parents nation of the DR Congo. (REPORT)
Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak has accepted an FA charge of violent conduct and will serve a four-match ban. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Ramsey making the difference for Arsenal on Wednesday? Do you see Icardi remaining at Inter? Glad to hear Strootman should recover in time for next season?
Share your thoughts below.