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Sunderland’s Nicklas Bendtner, currently on loan from the Emirates, is awaiting his return to Premier League action after receiving a face mask protecting his broken nose

The Danish international broke his nose after taking an accidental boot in the face, as Sunderland beat Swansea 2-0 on January 21.

The injury did not seem that complex at first but the grievance was more extensive, with potential damage around his eye-socket, too, and as a result Bendtner was to miss several weeks of action. Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill referred to it as ‘a big blow to us and to the lad himself.’

Thanks to his new face wear, the 24-year-old can be ready to play top-class football soon, although he is not going to play against Arsenal, as he cannot play against his parent club under the terms of his loan agreement.  Bendtner seems to be content with his mask nevertheless:

‘I don’t look near as cool as Batman’, the striker admitted on Twitter. ‘But at least I can play again.’

He received the same sort of medical help as his colleague Simon Mignolet beforehand, which allowed him to return weeks earlier than originally expected from an even worse injury.

The Danish striker might return to action against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, February 25.