David Ospina is fit and prepared to play for Colombia against Ecuador on Tuesday, says international manager Jose Pekerman.

The goalkeeper suffered a bad knock to his back in his last Arsenal outing against Everton but played on and managed to play in Colombia’s game against Bolivia last week, only to harm himself again.

Though he managed to finish the game, Ospina needed help getting off the pitch and didn’t completely commit to following training sessions. However, according to Pekerman, the 27-year-old is fine and will play in the critical game on Tuesday.

After five games, Colombia are seventh in the South American World Cup qualifying group on just seven points. The top four go through to the tournament in Russia in 2018, with the team in fifth entering a play-off match.

With Petr Čech injured and in a race to be fit for Arsenal’s league game against Watford on Saturday, the Gunners could need Ospina fit and may be a little concerned to see him playing for his country again after suffering two bad knocks in the space of a week.

Hopefully he comes through the game ok and Arsenal aren’t forced to hand a debut to Ryan Huddart when the Hornets visit at the start of April.