Abou Diaby is set to make his first competitive football appearance in 17 months after overcoming the latest in a string of injuries.

The 29-year-old missed over five years of cumulative first-team action at Arsenal between 2006 and 2015, finally being released last summer after making just 16 league appearances in his final four seasons at the club.

Diaby’s injury woes have not eased at Marseille, where he is yet to make a first-team appearance after picking up an injury in training, but he will now be available for the French cup game against fourth tier side Trelissac tomorrow.

Marseille manager Michel confirmed on Tuesday: “Abou Diaby will be in the squad. I thank the doctor for the effort made to recover him.

“Diaby has to play without pressure. It's hard to be so long without doing what you like the most.

“He will not disappoint us. He is motivated by the idea of coming back and playing in this game.”

Diaby has not played a competitive game since September 2014, when he managed 67 minutes of a League Cup defeat to Southampton.

L’OM currently languish in tenth place in the Ligue 1 standings, but are just five points off Nice in the final Champions League spot.