Arsenal have confirmed that striker Kai Havertz is set for a long spell on the sidelines following a fresh hamstring injury.
The German international is the club’s top scorer this season, finding the back of the net regularly in the Premier League and a few times in the Champions League.
With Gabriel Jesus’ ACL injury, Kai Havertz was relied upon as the last recognised centre-forward left in the team for Mikel Arteta to choose from before shuffling his options.
In typical fashion, just shortly after, it was reported that Havertz had suffered a hamstring injury while in Dubai.
The Arsenal striker was believed to require surgery, while a time frame was set for the remainder of the season.
Since those reports have circulated, further clarity has been lit on the situation from Arsenal themselves.
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When will Kai Havertz return from Arsenal injury?
In a statement on the club website, Arsenal have now revealed the full extent of the injury to Havertz, confirming that he will miss the remainder of the season.
The statement reads: “We can confirm that Kai Havertz has sustained a hamstring injury during a training session in Dubai last week.
“Subsequent assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed that the injury will require surgery, which will take place in the coming days. Soon after surgery, Kai will begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, which is expected to extend into pre-season preparations for next season.
“Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Kai to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible.”
It suggests that it will be an injury that will take until the middle of pre-season, perhaps setting him back even further than expected.
With Havertz building back his fitness, there will be some hope that he is able to prepare properly during the summer to hit the heights once again.
What it also adds is an emphasis on Arsenal needing to land a striker in the summer, with Jesus also out until around the end of the calendar year.
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What hamstring injury has Kai Havertz picked up?
A hamstring tear for Kai Havertz, along with subsequent surgery, certainly suggests that he will be out for a while.
The grade of that tear is unknown, but it is likely to be a high number to keep him out for such a time period.
Bukayo Saka required surgery for his injury in a relatively high tear, but that is expected to keep him out for two-to-three months.
While Havertz’s campaign is over, it doesn’t appear to be as short as Saka’s, with the pre-season timeframe suggesting he won’t be back until late July or August.
A complete hamstring tear, also known as a grade three tear, can keep players out for three-to-six months and requires surgery along with crutches for the first few weeks.
While the focus on the pitch will be on filling the void left by Havertz, there is still the human element of ensuring the striker is well looked after as he battles against a challenging time out of action.
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