Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas was not only struck down with a hamstring problem while sidelined for the matches against Porto and Hull City. The dynamic Spanish midfielder has revealed that he was also suffering from a face infection; a factor which led him to grow the scruffy beard he was sporting for the Gunners match against West Ham United on Saturday.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, the 22-year-old also revealed his frustration at not being able to take part in recent crucial fixtures.
"I hated being out for two weeks," said the Arsenal star.
"I wanted to come back but I was a little concerned in the first half to see how the hamstring was.
"I also had a little bit of an infection on my face as well. I could not really train too much. So I took it a little bit easy.
"It was my throat. That is why I have grown my beard - if I shaved you could see the lump. At the beginning it was tough but at the end I was strong."
Fabregas will no doubt be hoping to retain his fitness in the coming weeks as he faces up to the exciting prospect of playing childhood club Barcelona at the Nou Camp for the first time since quitting the Catalans as a 16-year-old.