Marseille’s Abou Diaby Has Comeback Delayed By Injury
Marseille midfielder Abou Diaby has once again had his return to action put on hold after suffering a calf injury in training. The former Arsenal man was set to take part in Marseille’s Coup de France tie with Granville on Thursday. However, L’OM manager Michel confirmed on Wednesday that Diaby was injured and his Marseille debut would be put on hold yet again.
“Friday morning I said he was on the list – that he was ready to play,” said Michel. “But on Friday afternoon after training, he injured himself, so I obviously replaced him.”
Diaby, 29, had made the bench for Marseille’s 1-1 draw with Saint-Etienne last month and had been in the squad for a previous Coup de France tie against Trelissac. And so, the notoriously injury-prone, box-to-box midfielder will wait a little longer to make his first competitive appearance since featuring for Arsenal in a League Cup loss to Southampton in September of 2014.
The calf injury is just the latest incident in a long line of injuries that saw Diaby limited to just two appearances in his final two seasons with the Gunners. Diaby wore the Arsenal shirt for nine years and during the fleeting periods when he was fit, he distinguished himself in Arsenal colors, particularly in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.
However, a broken ankle he suffered in a crunching tackle from Sunderland defender Dan Smith seemed to provide the catalyst for a litany of injuries. Now a decade from having joined the Gunners as a promising youngster from Auxerre, Diaby’s career has been one of fleeting moments of on-pitch inspiration interspersed with lengthy spells on the treatment table.
While many other players would’ve long ago thrown in the towel, Diaby has time and again showed the determination to come back.