Arsenal yesterday issued an upbeat prediction that Eduardo da Silva will be back in action before the end of the year as Martin Taylor, the man responsible for the Croatia striker’s broken leg, began the difficult process of getting on with his career.

The Birmingham City defender, described as “mentally shattered” by Alex McLeish, his manager, has received several death threats and was jostled by Croatian journalists attempting to get into his car as he left the club’s training ground yesterday.

As the man with a fractured left fibula and dislocated ankle, Eduardo will attract more sympathy and the thousands who have sent him messages of support will be relieved to hear that he is due to leave hospital later this week. The Brazil-born forward, who marked his 25th birthday with his family yesterday, faces a long road to recovery, but Arsenal hope to see him running again in six months and in contention for a first-team return three months later.

“All being well, Eduardo will have his leg in plaster and will be using crutches for the next six to eight weeks,” an Arsenal statement read. “After that time, partial weight-bearing exercises will be scheduled into a slow rehabilitation process. It is hoped that Eduardo will be running again in six months’ time and making a full recovery after nine months.

“The Arsenal medical team would like to take this opportunity to thank Birmingham City FC for their assistance on the day as well as the surgical and ward staff at Selly Oak Hospital for their expert medical care. On behalf of Eduardo, the club would like to thank everyone for their many touching messages of support.”

Taylor has received messages of a different sort, while an internet petition has also been set up demanding that he be suspended indefinitely. The 28-year-old will be given time off to clear his head this week as he is suspended for Birmingham’s next three matches after being sent off for his tackle on Eduardo in the third minute of the 2-2 draw against Arsenal at St Andrew’s on Saturday, but McLeish is confident that he will recover.

“I have heard about the death threats and I think there are some crazy people in the world,” the manager said. “It’s ridiculous but we have got to get on with it and dismiss these things. Obviously we’ve had to all rally round him because he’s been mentally shattered by the whole experience.

“His wife was upset, but he will get on with his life. The fact that he’s had magnificent support from the length of the country has helped him psychologically. I would have been worried about him had he not received the support he has from football people. The big man would like to draw a line under it and get on with his career.” Eduardo has already drawn a line under the incident, publicly exonerating Taylor from any blame, even if he was unable to remember the Birmingham player’s hospital visit on Sunday. “As far as I remember, Martin Taylor has still not been to see me, but I was under sedation so who knows,” he said. “If he does come I will let him see me. I forgive him and know it wasn’t deliberate. These things happen.

“Nothing hurts any more, but it hurt a lot on Saturday. I don’t have any doubt I’ll be back. Have no fear about that. I was scared when I saw my leg, but cannot say I was thinking about the end of my career.”