Abou Diaby finally ready to play after 'extraordinary human experience'

The injury-plagued former Arsenal man could play for Marseilles in Friday's Ligue 1 clash with St Rennes.

The 29-year-old has not played a competitive match since November 2014, for  Arsenal in a Capital One Cup match against Southampton.

He joined Marseille in the summer on a one-year contract but the nearest he has come to a debut is a place as an unused substitute, for last month's Coupe de France tie against minnows Trelissac and Ligue 1 clash with St Etienne.

He addressed the media at the club's press conference, broadcast on their website, ahead of Friday evening's game against Rennes. And he said: "At the current time, I can say all the lights are green, I am ready to play.

"It has been a long period with a lot of injuries but I have never felt so close to a return. "This season I have had no new injuries and right now I feel good. It has been an extraordinary human experience with Dr (Christophe)"