Omar Rekik has returned to training with Arsenal after his transfer to the club in January, opening up the possibility of u23 minutes soon.

Arsenal announced the signing of Omar Rekik from Hertha BSC on January 9th. The player took the number 63 as the club plan to use him in the u23s at first, but we’re still waiting for his first appearance a month later.

It seems the defender had a brief enforced absence from action. He was in training up until the first u23 game of the year, against Brighton on January 22nd, but he didn’t make the squad for that game or the u23 North London derby a week later.

Yesterday, Rekik posted that it “feels good to be back out there”, along with a picture of himself in training. Whatever the problem was, it seems he’s available again and just waiting on his debut.

The u23s face Chelsea on Friday night at 19:00 GMT, but the game may come too soon for the 19-year-old. If so, his next chance to feature is exactly one week later away to Manchester United.

Before joining Arsenal, Rekik was playing with Hertha’s second team. He made eight appearances for them this season, scoring one and assisting one despite starting at centre-back.