Djourou was injured in a collision with team-mate Bacary Sagna
Arsenal’s Johan Djourou believes his shoulder injury is not as bad as was first feared and hopes to play again this month, BBC Sport understands.
His season appeared to be over when he suffered a dislocation in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United.
But Djourou has told the Swiss Football Association he is confident of avoiding surgery and playing in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria on 26 March.
The 24-year-old defender is set to learn the results of a scan on Tuesday.
He received lengthy treatment after hurting his right shoulder in a collision with team-mate Bacary Sagna during Arsenal’s 2-0 loss at Old Trafford.
After the match, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: “Unfortunately we lost Johan Djourou for the rest of the season – dislocated shoulder – season over.”
That would have left Laurent Koscielny and Sebastian Squillaci as the club’s only fit senior central defenders, with Thomas Vermaelen still out with an Achilles tendon problem.
Djourou is of the opinion that there are no broken bones in his damaged joint and, if the scan shows an operation is not required, he could resume training soon.
More to follow.
