It finally happened! After three years, Abou Diaby started an actual football match.

The former Arsenal midfielder was named in Marseille’s starting lineup for their Sunday game against Sebastian Squillaci’s Bastia and managed to play 56 minutes without any of his limbs falling off.

He was replaced by Michy Batshuayi who scored his side’s only goal as Marseille lost the game 2-1.

The Frenchman has been working hard all season, suffering set back after setback. To his credit, he never once gave up although I’m sure, at times, he wondered if all the pain would ever be worth it.

He will no doubt be delighted to have finally made a proper return and we can all just hope that he doesn’t suffer any problems.

As if that isn’t good enough, the French press were also reporting that Marseille plan to honour the second year of Diaby’s contract even though he has barely featured for them all season.

Can this really be it for Diaby? His return to claim some of the years lost to him because of Dan Smith’s needless challenge?

We can only hope…