Arsenal manager Unai Emery has hinted Reiss Nelson can be part of his first-team plans next season.
Nelson would have been a shoo-in to start Wednesday night's Carabao Cup clash against Brentford but joined Hoffenheim on loan earlier this summer.
Nelson is highly rated at the Emirates Stadium, indeed England manager Gareth Southgate is understood to be particularly keen to see how 18-year-old performs in Germany given the dearth of English talent playing regularly in the Premier League.
And Emery, who will ring the changes for Wednesday's clash, says Nelson has a future at the club, despite allowing him leave on loan.
'Players like Emile Smith Rowe, like Joe Willock, like Eddie Nketiah and also Reiss Nelson are interesting to me,' said Emery.
'But we decided it's better for Reiss to go on and take this responsibility and get experience of games with a good level in Germany. I think that's good.'
On his team selection for Wednesday, Emery added: 'We can give players chances to play, chances to take confidence and minutes in the game.
'The possibility is to give the players who are playing less in one competition to take minutes and these responsibilities going forward.'