Arsene Wenger is hopeful Robin van
Persie will return to the Arsenal side before the end of the
season.
The Dutch striker has scored 13 goals this term but has not played
since breaking a bone in his foot against Manchester United in
January.
With Thierry Henry ruled out for the rest of the campaign and Theo
Walcott set to undergo shoulder surgery, Wenger's striking options
are limited.
Wenger admits Van Persie is making slow progress but believes he
could be back to play at least some part in their run-in.
"Robin van Persie was not allowed to start impact work for 10 weeks
from the injury so I would say the earliest (for a return) is the
end of April," said the Arsenal boss.
"I hope we will see him again this season but it could be very
short."
Kolo Toure is set to return from suspension for Sunday's game
against Everton, while Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky are also in
contention to start following recent injury problems.
However, Emmanuel Eboue and Gael Clichy are struggling for fitness
and Emmanuel Adebayor has one further game's ban to serve.
"Eboue is still out with the ankle injury he got at Blackburn and
Clichy had a hamstring problem against Eindhoven," Wenger told
Arsenal TV Online.
"He has not recovered yet so Kolo is the only suspended player
returning.
"Apart from that maybe Hleb will come back and Tomas Rosicky will
be fit enough to be in contention to start."