Mikel Merino opens up on 'scary' five-month injury nightmare

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has opened up about his taxing five-month spell on the sidelines. The 29-year-old sustained a rare, complex stress fracture in his foot during a match against Manchester United back in January, in which he had managed to score.

Merino admitted that the uniqueness of the injury created significant uncertainty, leading to genuine fears that his playing career might be over. The lack of medical precedents for such a specific fracture made the initial diagnosis particularly difficult to process.

I was a little bit scared because we didn't have examples from other people who had the same injury, so we didn't know what to expect from it, what path to go through during the recovery and if I was going to be able to play again. Mikel Merino

The midfielder credited the support of his teammates and the club staff for helping him maintain a positive outlook during his rehabilitation. Instead of isolating himself, he remained involved with the squad's daily activities, which he believes was crucial for his mental recovery.

Merino is now back in full training and feeling fit. His focus has shifted towards regaining match sharpness in time for the final fixtures of the season, with a long-term goal of securing a place in the Spain squad for the upcoming World Cup.