Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is set to return to action far sooner than expected, and could be ready for first team action by mid-March, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The 26-year-old has been sidelined since rupturing ankle ligaments in an international friendly for Holland against Italy back in November.

However, according to the report the Dutch international is now walking freely and was back in training with the Gunners last week.

The lethal finisher had been expected to miss the majority of the season, putting him at risk of also being ruled out of this summer’s World Cup as well.

However, van Persie is now expected to be ready to return by mid-March, almost a month sooner than originally anticipated.

The paper claims that while manager Arsene Wenger is still counselling caution and not expecting the striker to play until April, the Holland national team’s doctors anticipate he could return in as little as seven weeks.

Should the news prove correct it is likely to prove a huge boost for the Gunners, with Van Persie available to play a part in the campaign's crucial run-in.

The former Feyenoord forward bagged eight goals before injury, although despite his absence the north Londoners remain the Premier League’s top-scorers with 59 goals from 23 games.