Reyes may be banned for Arsenal debut

Jose Antonio Reyes passed his Arsenal medical and will train with his new team-mates for the first time tomorrow.

But the 20-year-old striker, who joined from Spaniards Seville in a deal totalling £17million, may have to wait for his Arsenal debut as he could be banned from Sunday's Premiership clash with Manchester City.

Arsenal are waiting to hear if the international clearance given to Reyes by the Spanish FA will include the fact he is subject to a one-match club suspension.

Reyes was due to serve that ban in La Liga this weekend and Arsenal had hoped that it would be scrapped by his move to England.

But if, as seems likely, the sanction is mentioned, then Reyes will not be able to play on Sunday at Highbury and would be set for a debut in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium next Tuesday. That tie was due to have been played last night but was postponed because of severe weather in the North East .

For Sunday's match, Thierry Henry is likely to return from his break to play alongside Dennis Bergkamp. The Dutchman scored the opening goal and excelled in the 4-1 FA Cup fourth-round win over Middlesbrough at Highbury last Saturday, even though he was short of match practice after missing five matches with a calf injury.