Hector Bellerin ahead of schedule after being ruled out for four weeks with ankle injury

Arsenal have been handed a major injury boost ahead of a busy fixture schedule which sees them playing in three competitions in the coming weeks. Hector Bellerin is expected to return to light training next week after being ruled out by Arsene Wenger for four weeks ahead of the Gunners' draw against Manchester United.

The right-back, who recently signed a new long-term deal with the club, was expected to be out for at least a month after damaging ankle ligaments during the final stages of Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur prior to the international break. Bellerin travelled with the Spain U21 squad for their play-off clash against Austria U21, but pulled out ahead of their first game due to the injury.

The Sun report suggests that he is ahead of schedule in his recovery and will return to light training next week before joining up with the rest of the squad seven days later. The Spain international's return will come as a big boost to Arsene Wenger, ahead of crucial clashes in the Premier League and Champions League.

Carl Jenkinson has been deputising for Bellerin in the last two games against United and Paris Saint-Germain. He is likely to continue when Arsenal take on Bournemouth on Sunday (27 November). The England international returned from long-term injury just over a month ago, so is not yet fully match fit to play on a regular basis.

The French manager has other options available in Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding in case Jenkinson cannot handle playing on a regular basis owing to his recent return from injury. The latter is likely to be the option as Wenger is unlikely to break up the successful partnership the German international has built with Laurent Koscielny at the heart of the Arsenal defence.