Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had pencilled in Saturday’s trip to Leicester as the date for Vieira’s return but his midfield lynchpin – who received some of his treatment over in France – has recovered ahead of schedule.

“I’ve been working hard with fitness coach Tony Colbert for the last 10 days and I’m feeling good. I always saw the Wolves games as a possible return but I’ve been determined to get fully fit before playing,” he said.

“The last couple of months have been a nightmare to be honest. I just want to play so much.”

Vieira’s return is a timely boost for Arsenal who have lost Ray Parlour to injury and Wenger is hoping to get at least an hour from his club captain against Wolves.

“Patrick will play from the start. I am a little bit cautious but he is always very impatient to start and at the moment he looks to be ready to start. How long he will last I don’t know, maybe an hour,” said the Gunners manager.

“It is important to have Patrick back, especially as we have lost Ray Parlour, and he could be out for two weeks.”

Wenger made full use of his squad against Rotherham in the previous round of the Carling Cup by taking the opportunity to rest some of his bigger names and he is ready to maintain that policy tomorrow.

“I will play the kids again – you’ll get a chance to see some of the youngsters against Wolves. It is only fair that people know that – I don’t want to cheat the fans so that’s why I’m telling them in advance,” he said.

“I hope to use Michal Papadopulos at some point during the match but we have got problems at centre-back because Martin Keown is suspended. I haven’t yet decided what to do about that.”

Striker Sylvain Wiltord is available after recovering from a groin problem but Lauren is out through suspension.