Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits that, although Eduardo da Silva will make a full recovery, his mental injuries will take longer to heal.

Eduardo is in Brazil and his recovery is reportedly on track. The striker suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle during the February game against Birmingham and is expected to return before the end of the year.

"The medical profession say he (will) make a full physical recovery," Wenger said. "We don't believe physically there will be a problem afterwards, but how much impact it will have in his head when he sees the tackles flying in again only the future will tell us.

"We believe medically there is no problem - he will play again - but after that how well can he deal with it? He is a tough boy so I am confident he will deal with it.

"At the moment we sent him to Sao Paolo, where he was born, where he can wait before he starts rehabilitation. There is a good physio there in Sao Paolo who he knows, and he is taking care of him. When he is ready to start training at the beginning of the season he will come back of course.

"We expect him to be out completely for six months but to play really at the top, top level, it will be nine months."