Seaman ready to take on Chelsea

Steve Stammers13 April 2012

David Seaman is set for a recall to the Arsenal team for the clash with Chelsea at Highbury on Saturday.

The 37-year-old England keeper, who has been out for three months with shoulder and then ankle injuries, made a successful comeback in a in a 5-1 reserve team victory against Wimbledon at Gander Green Lane last night.

He has missed 17 matches but if he does return this weekend the timing will be perfect for his club and country.

Seaman's prolonged absence and criticisms of his form before the injuries had put his England place in jeopardy and even provoked doubts about his Arsenal future.

And Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been linked with a number of possible replacements.

But now Seaman could be back in action just as new England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson arrives in this country and starts considering players for a series of international matches, the first of which is against Spain at Villa Park next month.

Seaman also had a workout-during a specially-arranged training match last Saturday morning and has the benefit of two weeks of full training.

He said today: "I had a practice game last Saturday and with this proper match under my belt I'm available again.

"Things are going great in training. Hopefully I'm in contention for the team on Saturday.

"You need games like last night's one to do the things you can't recreate in training. It was important that I got back playing. I want to make sure my game's right and the only way I can do that is by playing.

"The Spain game is obviously a target for me but I'm not going to say this, that and the other about England yet.

"First of all, the most important thing is to get back into the Arsenal side and I'll take it from there."

Seaman came through the full 90 minutes with no problems last night - apart from conceding that goal (scored by Paul Robinson) and he managed to smile about that.

Arsenal rate Seaman's deputy, Alex Manninger, highly but he has been prone to errors. Arsenal, who want to make inroads into Manchester United's 11-point Premier-ship lead, have an awkward FA Cup fourth-round tie at Queens Park Rangers or Luton looming and next month they resume their Champions League campaign against Olympique Lyon of France.

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