Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes is making good progress following a knee injury.
The 23-year-old had been called up to represent Brazil at this summer's rearranged Olympic Games football tournament in Japan after impressing in his debut season with the Gunners.
However, after turning up for training on July 1, he started complaining of pain in his right knee, with scans later revealing that he was suffering from joint swelling and undiagnosed tendonitis.
The injury denied Gabriel the chance to team up with Arsenal teammate Gabriel Martinelli to ensure Brazil retained their Gold medal after it was deemed that he would be unavailable to take part in the Selecao's last preparations before the tournament.
But a month has passed since the setback and Gabriel is on his way back to England after spending the last few days in Mexico with Sport physiotherapist Thiago Pegoretti.
The physio took to social media to deliver a rather promising update on the Gunners defender.
"The player @_gabrielmagalhaes, who works for Arsenal football club, in England, carried out an 11-day preventive and preparatory work with me in Cancun, Mexico, before returning to Europe," Pegoretti wrote on Instagram.
"I thank you for the confidence you have placed in my work and I wish you an excellent season, brother."
To which Gabriel replied by saying: "Thanks for everything brother."
With that said, it would appear that Arsenal's trip to Brentford to kick-off the new Premier League season next Friday will come too soon for Gabriel's return as hinted at by Mikel Arteta last weekend.
"I don’t know. He’s still injured. He picked up an injury when he was doing the preparations for the Olympics with Brazil," the Gunners manager said after the 2-1 pre-season defeat by Chelsea.
"At the moment, he’s not able to train with us at the moment so it’s unlikely. Hopefully, he can recover quickly."
Perhaps a full week of training could place Gabriel in contention to face the Blues when they make the trip to the Emirates Stadium on August 22.
