Gallas back in training

WILLIAM GALLAS is being considered for a speedy return to first team action for Arsenal in tomorrow’s Champions League tie with Dynamo Kiev.

The French defender was stripped of the club captaincy, fined two weeks’ wages and dropped from Arsene Wenger’s squad for Saturday’s defeat at Manchester City after he publicly criticised unnamed members of the Gunners’ squad — believed to be Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri — last week.

But Gallas, who trained alone at the club’s London Colney headquarters on Saturday, resumed training with the squad yesterday and Wenger is now pondering whether to reinstate him to his defence.

Gallas will not, however, be handed the captain’s armband, which is expected to be given to Cesc Fabregas, who missed the defeat at City through suspension.

Gallas is believed to regret the fact that his comments were made public and the effect they have had on Arsenal’s already brittle confidence, but his long-term future at the club remains in doubt.

He has already suggested he wants to end his career back in France and there would be no shortage of potential suitors for his services if Wenger made him available in the January transfer window.

Paris Saint-Germain are Gallas’ first choice, although there are doubts over whether the cash-strapped Championnat club could afford his wage demands — he currently earns around €106,000-a-week — while Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux would also be interested.

“Cesc Fabregas will be available for Tuesday and maybe Gallas,” said Wenger on Saturday.

“Of course he has a future at the club,. It just doesn't help to talk about it. Nothing disturbed us before the [City] game. I believe it was a flattering victory for them, and we have had worse weeks than this.”