Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says striker Danny Welbeck has shown positive signs that will gain him ‘two or three months’ in his recovery.

The 25-year-old underwent knee surgery in May and had been expected to miss most of the season, however, the Gunners manager says he could be back sooner than anticipated.

‘The good news is that they had to go in and check how [his knee] is healing, and if the inflammation is healing,’ Wenger told the Arsenal website.

‘It is healing even better than expected so we think he will be back in the New Year.

‘It could’ve been April, so we gained two or three months on the last medical check.’

The French manager continued to say that knowing more about his injury could give Welbeck the confidence he needs to work hard and make a speedy recovery.

‘It gives him a lift because it motivates him to accelerate the process a little bit because when you don’t know what is going on inside the knee, you are a bit uncertain. Now he knows, he can go and work hard, so that is very good news,’ he added.

Arsenal and Leicester City will be hoping to redeem themselves when the two side’s meet at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off has been set for 18:00.