Croatia´s Da Silva set to return after horrific injury

Arsenal’s Croatian striker Eduardo Da Silva, who suffered a horrific leg break earlier this year, said doctors had given him the all-clear to return to action in August, Croatian sports daily Sportske Novosti reported on Friday.

The 25-year-old Brazilian-born Croatian has been recovering since mid-April in a clinic in Rio De Janeiro and his return is good news as just in March, he had believed his recovery would take 15 months.

Eduardo suffered a compound fracture of the left leg following a tackle from Birmingham defender Martin Taylor at St Andrews in February.

“I am returning to Europe from Brazil at the beginning of August, perhaps even the end of July,” Da Silva told Sportske Novosti. “Doctors tell me by then I will be fully recovered and able to play football again. I hope so too.

“I’m feeling well and my rehabilitation is going better than I would ever have hoped.”

Croatia are in Group B of the June 7 to 29 Euro 2008 finals and will face Austria on June 8, Germany on June 12 and Poland four days later.

The recent absence of Eduardo, who has scored 13 goals in 18 matches for his country, has been a huge disappointment for coach Slaven Bilic. His replacement in the meantime has been 28-year-old Dortmund striker Mladen Petric.

A modest Eduardo had faith in his colleagues at the 16-nation tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

“I think the boys will play very well without me,” Da Silva said. “They’ll get through the group and, after that, we’ll have to wait and see.”