After six games out of action through injury, Arsenal winger Marquinhos made a positive step on Tuesday night by returning to Fluminense’s squad to face Gremio.
Marquinhos had missed the first leg of Fluminense’s Copa Libertadores tie against the same opposition, with the team losing 2-1.
Though he didn’t make an appearance on Tuesday night either, he was on the bench as Fluminense turned things around with a 2-1 win of their own, before emerging victorious on penalties.
Marquinhos will now hope to make it back onto the pitch before Fluminense’s quarter-final tie in the competition, having played five of their group stage games and scoring two goals and providing one assist.
The Arsenal 21-year-old has been absent with a thigh injury, returning to group training just over a week ago.
Marquinhos has played 24 games for Fluminense so far, splitting his time between right-wing and right-back. He appears to be preferred on the wing when Fluminense’s first-choice right-back options are fit.
Fluminense have a purchase option in their loan deal for Marquinhos, and Arsenal have a 50% sell-on clause in the deal should it go through. The incentive from all sides is for Marquinhos to have a successful year with the club.
The loan will end in January 2025, with Brazil’s football schedule operating on a calendar-year basis, so Marquinhos has a few months remaining of his initial spell.