Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard appears on track to return to action against Leicester in the Premier League this weekend.
The Norwegian playmaker was absent from the squad on Tuesday night as Mikel Arteta’s much-changed side clinched a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Leeds secured by second-half goals from Calum Chambers and Eddie Nketiah.
Arteta explained after the last-16 tie at Emirates Stadium that Odegaard - along with left-back Kieran Tierney, who has been battling an ankle issue - initially wanted to feature in the all-top-flight affair, but ultimately was not fit enough for consideration.
However, he expressed hope that both players would be ready for Saturday’s trip to Leicester, along with Ben White, who impressed against Leeds but was forced off in the second half with what was later confirmed to be the same bug that kept defensive colleague Pablo Mari sidelined.
And Odegaard was pictured taking part in full training at London Colney on Thursday as Arteta put his players - including a number of youngsters from the academy - through their paces before that match in the East Midlands.
That would suggest he is likely to play some part against Leicester, though it remains to be seen if White, Tierney and Mari will be in contention.
Arsenal are definitely without experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka, who faces another couple of months in the treatment room due to a knee ligament injury suffered in the north London derby defeat by Tottenham in September.
Following that win over Leeds, resurgent Arsenal - who started the campaign in dismal fashion - are unbeaten in their last eight games across all competitions, winning six, and head to the King Power Stadium sitting mid-table in the Premier League but with a chance to jump as high as fifth in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.
