MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russian national football team coach Guus Hiddink said it is too early to say if Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin and Chelsea's Yury Zhirkov will return to the pitch in the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Wales.
Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin aggravated a groin injury during the club's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United last Saturday, and Yury Zhirkov, who plays for Chelsea, has been out with knee injury.
"Zhirkov and Arshavin are working out and their condition is improving," Hiddink said at a press conference after Russia beat Lichtenstein 3:0 in St. Petersburg on Saturday.
Hiddink said Arshavin was "getting closer to being able to play."
The Russian team is off to Cardiff to play Wales on September 9. On the same day, Lichtenstein will play against Finland, and Germany will go up against Azerbaijan.
Guus Hiddink's side are in second place in 2010 World Cup qualifying Group 4, one point behind Germany.
