Van Persie targets return

(GSM) – Robin van Persie is back in light training and hopes he can return in April to help Arsenal in their bid to win the Premier League and Champions League.

Van Persie sustained an ankle injury in November when he played for Holland against Italy. It was feared the 26-year-old striker would miss the rest of the campaign, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed over the weekend he was hopeful Van Persie could return for the final few games of the campaign.

The former Feyenoord player has now targeted a return in April.

“I am medically fit, but physically I have to gain,” Van Persie told Dutch television programme Studio Voetbal. “Only then can I train with the full group.

‘I’m not there yet but I’ve left a difficult period behind. For a few weeks I’ve been training with the ball and it looks good.

‘I still hope I can take part in the final phase of the league and hopefully the Champions League. This has been my goal from the beginning.

‘My first goal is to play for Arsenal. When I said that a few months ago, I looked crazy.

“But as it stands now, that will happen. Only then can I think about the World Cup.’