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Ex-Arsenal player Abou Diaby 'ready to play' for Marseille after injuries

Marseille midfielder Abou Diaby will finally return to action after 16 months out.

Diaby, 29, has not played in a competitive match since he played for Arsenal against Southampton in a Capital One Cup game in November 2014.

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

Diaby addressed the media at the club's news conference, broadcast on their website, ahead of Friday evening's game against Rennes.

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) Beaudot and his staff."