Arsenal defender Bellerin in contention for return against Crystal Palace

The right-back was ruled out of the Gunners' Premier League opener with a muscle problem and is due to return to training on Thursday

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is set to return to training at the end of this week and could be in contention to play against Crystal Palace on Sunday, Goal understands.

Bellerin, 20, missed the Gunners 2-0 defeat to West Ham on Sunday after picking up a slight muscle strain in training last week.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that Bellerin had only suffered a minor problem and it would be a “question of days” before the Spaniard returned to full training.

Bellerin is expected to train again with the full squad on Thursday and could be play in this weekend's trip to Selhurst Park, although the north Londoners’ home clash with Liverpool on August 24 is a more realistic target.

Bellerin established himself as Arsenal’s first choice right-back last season and will hope to return straight to the starting XI after being replaced by Mathieu Debuchy for the Premier League opener against Slaven Bilic's side.

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