Promising Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong made a welcome return from a serious knee injury in last night's reserves win over Sunderland.
The 19-year-old had featured alongside Jack Wilshere for the Gunners' pre-season matches, and produced impressive displays in the Emirates Cup against the AC Milan and Celtic.
However, Frimpong then suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in training and was set for a frustrating extended spell on the sidelines.
England youth international Frimpong, who was born in Ghana and could yet go on to represent the Black Stars, came on for the final 22 minutes of the second-string's 4-2 win over Sunderland and could yet be back in first-team contention by the end of the campaign.
Reserves manager Neil Banfield told www.arsenal.com: "It's great for Emmanuel, he was distraught after doing his knee.
"He was giving himself every opportunity for the manager to pick him [before his injury] and now he has got to get himself back to that level.
"Emmanuel is coming back and playing which, at this moment in time, is the best thing."
Veteran goalkeeper Jens Lehmann got another 90 minutes under his belt for the reserves as he looks to build up match sharpness.
