Beth Mead could feature in Arsenal Women’s WSL game against Aston Villa on Sunday, after Jonas Eidevall provided the latest update on the Arsenal and England forward.

Speaking in Friday’s press conference, Eidevall said of Mead: “We have one more training to go. If she goes through that training, she should be available for selection.”

Mead ruptured her Anterior Cruciate Ligament in November 2022, and is nearing a return to first team football after a lengthy spell on the sidelines that included missing the Women’s World Cup earlier this year.

“We all know that Beth Mead is a quality football player, so of course we are really looking forward to having her back on the pitch,” said Eidevall.

Mead’s teammate Vivianne Miedema also suffered an ACL injury last year in a game against Lyon in the Champions League group stage, and Eidevall discussed her recovery.

“Viv has returned to team training, which is really nice. So obviously the next thing from team training is to start being involved in playing games. If that’s friendly games, if that’s internal games behind closed doors and so on, that’s a different question, but that’s the next step. 

“And from there on she’s not miles away from being selected, from being able to be in the squad. So she’s definitely getting closer.”

Eidevall confirmed that Arsenal sustained “one or two minor injuries” in the 2-2 draw away to Manchester United last Friday, but no players are ruled out for Sunday’s game.

Finally, the Arsenal head coach discussed Leah Williamson, who was the third Arsenal player to injure her ACL last season, up against Manchester United in April.

“Leah is unfortunately not that close to playing, even if she is progressing well as well. She is out on the pitch, which is really pleasing. That is of course a really important stage in returning to play, to do that.

“From there on, now it starts. We’re doing more basic ball work, until progressing with more complex moving patterns, and from there she will start integrating in team training. There is no way she’s gonna return before Christmas, she’s an after-Christmas player, and what month after Christmas it’s impossible to predict at the moment.

“To save you guys from asking every week for it, before Christmas, no.”