Diaby Ruled Out After Picking Up Injury On International Duty

Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby is almost certain to miss France’s World Cup qualifier against Belarus on Tuesday after picking up an injury at the weekend.

Didier Deschamps men beat Finland 1-0 on Friday night thanks to Diaby’s well taken strike with the midfielder also earning rave reviews for his all action display.

However, it seems the 26-year-old’s misfortune with injuries had reared its head once again after Deschamps revealed Diaby felt ‘muscle discomfort’ after picking up a knock and is now a major doubt for Tuesday’s clash with Finland.

When asked about the fitness of Diaby, Deschamps is quoted by Goal.com as saying:

“It will be difficult for him to be available for tomorrow’s game.

“He took a bad knock and felt a muscle discomfort. He knows himself and maybe a little more than everyone [if he is fit].

“Before considering whether he has recovered from the injury to take the field, we should not have any concerns on the massage table.”

Diaby only managed two substitute appearances last season after being struck down by a series of frustrating  injuries. The former Auxerre man returned to fitness in the summer and has made an excellent start to the new season, including a Man of the Match performance during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield.

Minor knocks are to be expected after a player has spent so long on the sidelines, so there is no need to panic just yet, but let’s hope his muscles are just in need of a rest and he hasn’t picked up anything more serious.

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