William Saliba is back in full training with Saint-Etienne after injury, and he’s ready to play against Nimes Olympique this weekend.

Saint-Etienne's French defender William Saliba gestures during the French L1 football match between Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne (ASSE) on October 20, 2019, at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP / Getty Images)
Saint-Etienne’s French defender William Saliba gestures during the French L1 football match between Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne (ASSE). October 20, 2019, at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP / Getty Images)

William Saliba rejoined full training with Saint-Etienne on Tuesday after injury.

He spent a couple of days undergoing tests with Arsenal doctors last week, but they clearly passed him fit for a full return. The defender was reportedly ‘in fine fettle’ in training yesterday.

Saint-Etienne journalist Chloe Gallot of Ultimo Diez told Daily Cannon she expects Saliba to play on Saturday evening against Nimes Olympique. The Ligue 1 match is at home for Saint-Etienne, at 19:00 GMT.

This return is a long time coming. Saliba last played back on November 3rd, close to three months ago. Saint-Etienne won two, drew one and lost five in the league without him.

More worryingly for Saliba’s loan side, they only kept one clean sheet in those matches.

Claude Puel’s side need some more defensive stability, and they believe the 18-year-old gives them that. They only conceded more than one goal in one of his seven appearances this season, after all.

From an Arsenal point of view, we just want to see Saliba playing now. He’s still only up to 26 senior appearances for his career so far, so he needs to play regularly between now and May if he’s going to have a shot at the Gunners’ first-team next season.