Back in March, Abou Diaby was confident of making the France World Cup squad.

Instead, it's been another six months on the treatment table and training ground, even spending time in the Alps as he battles back from his latest setback.

Diaby is 28, and he's made 124 Premier League appearances since joining Arsenal in 2006. That's a lot of missed games.

Image source, Getty Images

Away from the League Cup, there is some action in the top leagues across Europe.

After two successive wins and 13 goals scored, Real Madrid are looking to continue their recent good form at home to Elche, with that La Liga match having just got under way.

In Germany, champions Bayern Munich have also kicked off in their home match against Paderborn while over in Italy AC Milan are at Empoli, with that game getting under way at 19:45 BST.

Comebacks and returns everywhere you look. Cardiff's seven changes include caretaker manager Danny Gabbidon, who makes his first Bluebirds start in nine years.

Image source, Getty Images

Abou Diaby played the final 16 minutes of last season - his only appearance of 2013-14. The Frenchman has not started a game since March 2013 but is in tonight.

Liverpool have gone 25 games unbeaten at home to Middlesbrough in all competitions, winning 19 and drawing six.

Image source, AP

Tuesday marks 40 years since the introduction of the dearly departed Ceefax, the world's first teletext service, and to celebrate the anniversary of the launch we want BBC Sport readers to write their own Ceefax match reports on one of Tuesday's League Cup matches.

Sounds easy? Think again, as getting all the key details into four paragraphs poses a tricky challenge.

Following the guidance in the above picture, send us your report from one of Tuesday's matches, using the form in our Ceefax anniversary story. We will publish a selection of these on the website on Wednesday. Please note, this is available on the desktop site only.

At the Stadium of Light, Sunderland continue their chase of a second League Cup final in a row against Stoke.

Gus Poyet's side, who led against Manchester City in the final before eventually going down 3-1, find themselves without a league win this season and the manager is eager for the players who haven't been part of his plans so far to seize their chance against Stoke.

"I think it's a good opportunity for a few players to show me that I've made a mistake and they should be playing; the ones who are going to make us win the game in the Premier League next week," said Poyet.

Image source, Arsenal

Arsenal:, external Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski arrive at Emirates Stadium ahead of Arsenal v Southampton.

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet makes seven changes to the side that draw with Burnley in the Premier League at the weekend.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon is in goal while Sebastian Coates makes his debut. There are also starts for Billy Jones, Liam Bridcutt, Jordi Gomez, Will Buckley and Jozy Altidore.

Stoke, meanwhile, make six changes from Saturday's 2-2 draw at QPR, with Jack Butland, Rob Huth, Marc Muniesa, Stephen Ireland, Marko Arnautovic and Oussama Assaidi all in.

Sunderland starting XI: Pantilimon, Vergini, Jones, O'Shea, Coates, Johnson, Rodwell, Bridcutt, Gomez, Buckley, Altidore.

Stoke starting XI: Butland; Bardsley, Shawcross, Huth, Muniesa; Nzonzi, Adam; Arnautovic, Ireland, Assaidi; Diouf

Rested Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic:, external "Good luck to the boys up in Sunderland tonight! Hopefully moving into the next round!"

Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler:, external "Good to see Jordan Rossiter make his first start... Will do very well, right attitude."

Swansea manager Garry Monk makes five changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Southampton.

Everton's matchday squad includes Brian Oviedo and Arouna Kone, who have recovered from long-term injuries. Left-sided player Oviedo makes his first senior start since breaking his leg at Stevenage in January. Striker Kone is on the bench, and could make his first appearance since last October when he suffered a serious knee injury.

Swansea XI: Tremmel, Richards, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Carroll, Shelvey, Sigurdsson, Dyer, Montero, Gomis.

Everton XI: Howard, Hibbert, Gibson, Eto'o, McGeady, Oviedo, Distin, Besic, Atsu, Garbutt, Alcaraz.

Rickie Lambert is handed the captain's armband on his first start for Liverpool in a side showing seven changes to the one beaten 3-1 by West Ham at the weekend. Jordan Rossiter, a 17-year-old Scouse midfielder, lines up alongside Lucas. Jose Enrique and Kolo Toure make rare starts at the back.

Goalkeeper Jamal Blackman makes his Middlesbrough debut. Centre-back Daniel Ayala returns from a ban but midfielder Dean Whitehead is suspended after his red card in the 4-0 win over Brentford on Saturday.

Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Toure, Enrique, Sakho, Manquillo; Lucas, Rossiter, Lallana: Markovic, Sterling, Lambert.

Middlesbrough XI: Blackman; Fredericks, Ayala, Omeruo, Friend; Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Reach; Tomlin, Kike.

As Abou Diaby and Bryan Oviedo start the long walk back to fitness and form, let's talk greatest sporting comebacks.

George Foreman won the world heavyweight title 20 years after losing it for the first time, Mike Hailwood came out of the wilderness to smoke everyone at the Isle of Man TT after 11 years away, Jennifer Capriati defied the aging process to win two Grand Slams a decade after reaching the top, and Michael Jordan came back to lead the Chicago Bulls to more glory.

But who have we missed? Who are your favourite sporting tales of redemption? Who battled against the odds to bring a tear to your eye? Who did you write off only to see them return to the top?

Get in touch at #bbcfootball, external, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page, external or BBC Sport's Google+ area., external

You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

BBC Radio 5 live

From 19:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 live, Mark Pougatch presents build-up to tonight's football before full-match coverage of the Capital One Cup tie between Arsenal and Southampton gets under way at 19:45, with updates from the rest of the third-round ties.

Image source, Marco Gabbiadini

Marco Gabbiadini, Sunderland's joint top scorer in the League Cup: , external Happy to be in Sunderland programme tonight. Wish it was on the team sheet though.

Abou Diaby makes yet another return for Arsenal, as boss Arsene Wenger makes 10 changes from the team that beat Aston Villa in the Premier League at the weekend. Diaby's last appearance was a 14-minute cameo at the end of last season, which was his only game of that campaign.

David Ospina makes his Gunners debut in goal following his summer move from Nice, and there are starts for young defenders Hector Bellerin and Isaac Hayden. The only player to keep his place from the weekend is Calum Chambers, who faces his former club.

Southampton make five changes, with the big news being a first start for forward Sadio Mane after he was granted a work permit following his move from Red Bull Salzburg. Florin Gardos, Steven Davis, Victor Wanyama and Matt Targett also play.

Arsenal starting XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Chambers, Hayden, Coquelin, Rosicky, Diaby, Wilshere, Alexis, Campbell, Podolski

Southampton starting XI: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Targett, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Tadic, Mane, Pelle

Many players may have retired after a reported 40 injuries in eight years, but to his credit Abou Diaby is back in business.

"He's a giant mentally," said Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

"To do what he has done, with the severe injuries he had, he comes back every time, is dedicated and he deserves a lot of respect.

"I'm a huge believer in his quality and I'm sad as well that he couldn't show it more. If there is some justice, the future will be much better for him."

Image source, Getty Images

After a testing week for Liverpool, their pursuit of a ninth League Cup begins at home to Middlesbrough. Rickie Lambert is set for his first start for his hometown club.

They may not be in Abou Diaby's league but Everton have two long-term injury sufferers making their first steps back tonight.

Left-back Bryan Oviedo plays for the first time since snapping his leg in two at Stevenage in January, while striker Arouna Kone is involved after a year out with a knee injury.