Injured Arsenal star Thomas Partey has been set a target by Ghana manager Chris Hughton with the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching.
It's been a frustrating start to the season for the 30-year-old as he's already missed six weeks of action after sustaining a groin problem in training on the eve of the home game against Manchester United back in September. Making his return as a substitute the following month as the Gunners beat Manchester City, the midfielder then featured twice for his country during the October international break.
However, his appearance against the USA could turn out to be his last for club or country in 2023 as he was an unused substitute in Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Chelsea before being ruled out of the Sevilla clash three days later with a thigh issue. Such is the severity of the injury there are fears Partey won't play again this year.
Having said that, Mikel Arteta has revealed the Gunners' number five is doing well after undergoing a specialist procedure for treatment on his thigh and remains optimistic that the midfielder will be available for selection at some point over the next six weeks.
"Hopefully not," the Spaniard said in a press conference when asked if Partey is set for another long spell on the sidelines. "He’s progressing really well. I said hopefully it will be weeks not months. He needs support and hopefully, the injury will heal in the right way because he’s a big player for us."
If Arteta is proven right and Partey does indeed feature for Arsenal before the end of the year that will be a massive boost especially when taking fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool, West Ham United and Fulham over the festive period into consideration.
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Furthermore, a fully fit Partey will almost certainly be named in the Ghana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and this is the target he's been set by the Black Stars' manager: "We are all very much aware of the quality of player that he is. Unfortunately for us, he is injured at this period of time," Hughton told BBC Africa.
"We are very hopeful that he will be fit and back playing and in good form by the time that we get to AFCON but at this very moment we don’t know."
Whether Hughton will select Partey for the tournament if his captain has not played for Arsenal before naming his squad remains to be seen but what's for certain is the midfielder faces a race against the clock if he's to lead his nation out against Cape Verde on January 14.
Likely to depart for the AFCON around FA Cup third round weekend (January 6, 2024), barring early eliminations, Partey - if selected by Ghana- is likely to miss up to six Arsenal games across all competitions including a showdown at home to Liverpool in early February.
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