Freddie hopes to be ready in weeks

Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg has set himself a target of returning to first-team action after injury in mid-September.

Ljungberg had surgery after suffering a hip injury during the World Cup and has been forced to miss the start of the season as a result.

However, he is happy with his progress and is waiting to hear an update from a specialist next week.

The Swede told the club's website, www.arsenal.com: "The hip is getting better. When you have an operation it goes slowly but the doctors are happy with my progress. I'm seeing a specialist on 22 August and I'm working on building up all the muscles around the hip."

Ljungberg is counting on Arsene Wenger's assessment, that he should be available for selection by the middle of next month, proving to be correct. He said: "I'm aiming for that. But at the same time, I've had an operation so I can't be too devastated if the specialist tells me I can't start rotating the hip."

Meanwhile, Wenger claimed today the new transfer window system will lead to a rash of "panic buys".

The Arsenal manager is not happy clubs now have to sign players by 31 August and the next chance is a window in January.

He said: "English football has always lived well with the open market until the deadline in March.

"We go into the final sprint with the teams set. I'm against the transfer window because it pushes people into making rush buys. Now there will be more panic buys in January."

Arsenal face Birmingham on Sunday and midfielder Patrick Vieira is fit after treatment to his knee following the tackle on him by Steven Gerrard in the Community Shield but striker Kanu is ruled out by an ankle injury.

Birmingham's record signing, striker Clinton Morrison, is poised to make his debut after a £ 4millionplus switch from Crystal Palace.

Morrison has shaken off a groin problem, but admits he is not match fit after just 20 minutes of preseason action.