William Saliba has returned to the St Etienne squad ahead of their game this weekend against Nimes after missing nearly two months following surgery.

Back in mid-August, St Etienne’s manager confirmed that, in consultation with Arsenal’s medical team, William Saliba undergone surgery and would be out for around six weeks.

Almost two weeks ago, Saliba returned to Arsenal for what now looks like the final step in his rehabilitation.

According to Chloe Gallot of Ultimo Die, who has been keeping us updated on his loan spell, the 18-year-old will be included in the squad for St. Etienne’s game at Nimes on Sunday (kick-off 4pm UK).

Saliba is yet to play this season, in fact, his last match was on 18 May in a 3-0 win over Nice.

His return is good news. Out with a groin problem called ‘pubalgia’ he could have faced a number of months on the sidelines as it healed.

“Traditional surgery for pubalgia involves making a cut near the groin and fixing the damaged tissue,” writes healthline.com. “Recovery takes about 6 to 12 weeks.

“Another surgical procedure called laparoscopy is becoming a common way to both diagnose and treat groin injuries. This involves inserting a thin tube with a tiny camera, called a laparoscope, into your groin to give your surgeon a better view of the damaged tissue. Small instruments can be inserted through another nearby tube to perform the actual surgery.

“Recovering from laparoscopy only takes about a week, but you may need to avoid vigorous activity for three to four weeks.

“You’ll likely be able to return home the same day after having either traditional or laparoscopic surgery. Your doctor may also suggest doing physical therapy after surgery to rebuild your abdominal strength.”