Lauren comeback still months away

Lauren will not be returning to playing action before the New Year, according to Arsène Wenger.

The Cameroonian right-back has been out of action for almost the entire calendar year, last featuring for Arsenal in a 2-1 Carling Cup victory over Wigan.

With an abundance of players who can play in the position, Wenger will be in no hurry to rush Lauren back to competitive action.

"I don't think you will see Lauren in the team before January," Wenger said.

"He played up to the limit of his pain and then maybe he played a little too long. That created some damage in his knee which had to be repaired.

"But he is a tough, tough boy. He works hard and he will come back. He is making good progress but he still has four or five weeks before he comes back to normal training and then it will take a month's full training to come back into the team."

Many have speculated as to whether Lauren will be able to regain his place as the first choice right back with the impressive form of Emannuel Eboue.

Wenger himself declined to give a direct answer to the question, instead insisting: "There is no first-choice right back."

"The first-choice right back is the one who plays in the next game. This team now is not dependant on one player in any position on the pitch. Everybody has tough competition to stay in the side."

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