Van Bronckhorst back for Gunners

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will make his comeback after a nine-month knee injury lay-off when Arsenal take on Sunderland in the Worthington Cup on Wednesday.

The Dutch midfielder, 27, has battled back to fitness after sustaining cruciate ligament damage against Fulham in February.

French midfielder Robert Pires, nearing full fitness after seven months out with his cruciate knee ligament injury, is expected to be promoted from the bench to the starting XI.

Skipper Patrick Vieira is available after his two-match suspension but likely to be rested for Saturday’s home Premiership showdown with Newcastle.

Dennis Bergkamp, back from his Achilles problem, starred against Fulham on Sunday and could get another run-out tomorrow.

But Ray Parlour (knee and hamstring) and Martin Keown (hamstring) are both still out.

Provisional squad: Seaman, Shaaban, Taylor, Cole, Lauren, Luzhny, Campbell, Cygan, Stepanovs, Edu, Gilberto, Pires, Ljungberg, Wiltord, Vieira, Toure, Pennant, van Bronckhorst, Henry, Bergkamp, Kanu, Jeffers.