Arsenal loanee Mauro Bandeira was finally back in Colchester United’s matchday squad on Tuesday night, after his absence was revealed to be through injury.

Arsenal youth midfielder Mauro Bandeira was regularly involved in Colchester United’s matchday squads at the beginning of his loan to the club, making 11 appearances and featuring on the bench in the three matches he didn’t play in.

But the 20-year-old then disappeared, with no official explanation for his absence given by Colchester United, to the bemusement of supporters.

Following his last appearance in a Colchester squad on October 14th, Bandeira missed out on their next 10 fixtures, before it was finally confirmed last week that the player had been out of action through injury.

Colchester United boss Matty Etherington explained that Bandeira had been back at London Colney to work on his recovery from injury, before adding that the midfielder “is back from Arsenal and training this week. He needs a full week of training but he’s back”.

A week later, Bandeira made the bench for the side away to Doncaster Rovers, watching on as Etherington’s team lost 3-1.

It’s good to have some clarity on the loanee’s situation, and even better to see him back with his loan club on a matchday again.

Colchester United are next in action against West Ham United’s u21 side in the EFL Trophy knockout stages on Tuesday, December 5th at 19:30 GMT.

That could be the perfect time to introduce Bandeira back into the action, with the EFL Trophy often used for rotation by the lower-league sides.

Bandeira is yet to play for Etherington, having signed for Colchester when Ben Garner was still in charge.