Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided a positive injury update on Piero Hincapie ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.
The Gunners have travelled to Munich for the European game, but they are without three key players in Hincapie, William Saliba and Christos Tzolis.
Saliba has been out since the World Cup with France due to a back injury, while Tzolis recently sustained a hamstring issue on Nations League duty with Greece.
Hincapie suffered an ankle sprain in a warm-down session this month, but he was spotted on the grass doing individual training before the squad travelled to Germany.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said Hincapie can be available to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday if he trains with the team in the next few days.
He said: “Piero, let’s see if he’s able to train in the next few days as well; he can be available for Everton, which is great news.”
The Ecuador international initially joined Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan last term.
He began as a central defender for the Gunners but became a regular at left-back at the turn of the year.
Hincapie started the Carabao Cup and Champions League finals for Arsenal, and proved to be a key member of the squad.
Arsenal had a conditional obligation to buy him, and that clause was triggered for £34.5 million towards the end of June.
Hincapie has managed just 160 minutes this campaign, and will hope to play more going forward.
The 24-year-old had completely recovered from a groin concern during the international break, but picked up an unfortunate knock to his ankle after the Leeds United game.
The ankle injury came at the wrong time, as he would probably have started against Lille in the Champions League.
His setback meant Myles Lewis-Skelly got the nod at left-back after the manager decided to give Riccardo Calafiori a breather.
We could see something similar against Bayern tonight.
Lewis-Skelly, who was an unused substitute in the Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, could replace Calafiori once more.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com