LONDON — Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is close to returning from an ankle ligament injury, Norwegian coach Stale Solbakken said.

The midfielder has been out since suffering what was described as significant damage while playing for his country in September.

“Everything indicates that (the injury) is going according to plan, and then it comes to the final stages when you go to train with opponents and in team training,” Solbakken told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang. “It depends on how he reacts to it but we have a justified hope that he will be ready.”

Arsenal face Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday and it is unclear whether Odegaard will be in contention for that match.

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