LONDON (AP) - Ten months after breaking his leg, Eduardo da Silva made his comeback for Arsenal's reserve team on Tuesday and said he hoped to start for the Gunners' first team early in 2009.
The Brazilian-born Croatia international forward fractured his left fibula and dislocated his ankle playing against Birmingham City in February and missed the rest of last season, the European Championship and the first five months of this campaign.
He played the first half of Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Portsmouth before going off with a hamstring injury.
"I am feeling very happy to have started my first game in 10 months," Eduardo said. "I hope I can do more, and that next time will be better. I just felt something in my hamstring, but in two weeks, I will be all right.
"The injury was very hard for me, but I have had to forget everything bad in my life and went to do some treatment in Brazil where I saw my family and friends, which helped make me strong."
Eduardo joined Arsenal from Dinamo Zagreb last season and scored four goals in 17 games before being seriously injured in a tackle by Birmingham defender Martin Taylor, who was sent off and suspended for three games.
"I need more training and games, and if everything is OK, then hopefully in two weeks I will be ready to play," Eduardo said. "I just want to play like I did before, but maybe I can be better."
Eduardo returns for Arsenal after broken leg
The Brazilian-born Croatia international forward fractured his left fibula and dislocated his ankle playing against Birmingham City in February and missed the rest of last season, the European Championship and the first five months of this campaign.
He played the first half of Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Portsmouth before going off with a hamstring injury.
"I am feeling very happy to have started my first game in 10 months," Eduardo said. "I hope I can do more, and that next time will be better. I just felt something in my hamstring, but in two weeks, I will be all right.
"The injury was very hard for me, but I have had to forget everything bad in my life and went to do some treatment in Brazil where I saw my family and friends, which helped make me strong."
Eduardo joined Arsenal from Dinamo Zagreb last season and scored four goals in 17 games before being seriously injured in a tackle by Birmingham defender Martin Taylor, who was sent off and suspended for three games.
"I need more training and games, and if everything is OK, then hopefully in two weeks I will be ready to play," Eduardo said. "I just want to play like I did before, but maybe I can be better."