Gedion Zelalem will return to London Colney to continue his rehabilitation, according to latest reports.

The American midfielder tore a cruciate ligament in his knee while playing for USA at the u20 World Cup and faced a nine-month spell on the sidelines. According to Football.London, Zelalem has entered the next phase of his rehabilitation, which will take place at Arsenal’s training base at London Colney. He spent the initial phase in the United States.

Zelalem still has hopes of playing this season and with his contract expiring in 2018, he’ll be keen to return as soon as possible. The midfielder looked very promising during Arsenal’s pre-season tours in the past and earmarked as a future first-team players.

Things haven’t quite worked out for him, though. An impressive loan with Rangers aside, he didn’t get many first team opportunities at Arsenal and hasn’t progressed as much as people thought he would. He now faces the real possibility of being released this summer.

Zelalem spent the second half of last season on loan at VVV-Venlo and, according to the report, was expected to join either a Dutch or German club on a permanent deal this summer before he was injured.