Abou Diaby is set to make his grand return from 17 months on the sidelines for Marseille against Trélissac on Thursday but how long will he stay fit?

I find it hard to talk (or write) about Diaby without being taken over by an overwhelming sense of sadness. He was always one of those players that I’ll always look at and think of what could have been.

The midfielder was hugely talented and one of the most elegant players to watch, despite his lanky frame. I remember one of his many returns for Arsenal being against Liverpool at Anfield and he would repeatedly glide around our midfield, completely outclassing anyone who got in his way, even though he’d only just returned.

Alas, he was soon sidelined again through injury. A pattern which had been repeating itself since he had his ankle ligaments damaged by Dan Smith. He was never the same and could never play more than a couple of games before we’d get the inevitable update that Diaby was once again injured.

In the end we had no choice but to release him and Marseille signed him. However, he was injured during training and is yet to play for them. Now, after 17 months out, he’s set to make his return.

I really hope he can reach peak fitness again and become the player he was always meant to be but my gut tells me that unfortunately it’s only a matter of time before we hear he’s been sidelined again.

I really, really hope I’m wrong.