Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck out for 'six months' according to England boss Roy Hodgson

The 24-year-old has undergone surgery on his left knee

(Getty Images)

England manager Roy Hodgson has suggested that Danny Welbeck will be out for six months with his current knee injury, deepening Arsenal's current striker shortage.

The north London club failed to specify the length of the 24-year-old's absence when announcing last Thursday that he would undergo surgery on his left knee.

A statement on Arsenal's official website only said that the striker would be unavailable for 'a period of months'.

However, Hodgson has since revealed that Welbeck will be out for up to six months and threw the former Manchester United player's involvement at Euro 2016 into doubt.

“Welbeck bothers me now,” Hodgson said. “He has already been out for me since March so that’s over four months already.

"Now I hear it’s another six months, so I can only hope that Danny recovers a bit quicker and hits the ground running."

Arsenal are still yet to specify the exact length of Welbeck's absence.

If Hodgson's information is correct, Oliver Giroud will be Arsenal's only recognised striker until March, unless Arsene Wenger strengthens his front line during the January transfer window.

Hodgson also mentioned his concerns over Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge, who has similarly suffered with long periods of absence.

“Daniel is a little bit the same because it’s getting on for a year now.

"I’ve got to make certain there are a few Jamie Vardys and Harry Kanes and Theo Walcotts because we can’t keep going around talking about the ones who aren’t there."

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