Former Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque is set to make a miraculous return to professional football less than a year after announcing his retirement from the game.
Malbranque, 32, joined St Etienne from Sunderland last August, but terminated his contract at the French side just one month later.
But it appears as though the attacking midfielder is set to resume his career at boyhood club Lyon.
Lyon coach Remi Garde revealed that he is in talks with the 32-year-old over a return to the Stade Gerland.
"It is very clear with Steed. Olympique Lyon want to know where he is to see if there is an opportunity," Garde told French publication France Football.
"For now we're at the stage of observation - we'll see if it goes well.
"Steed is a player that we know - he has a lot of maturity and kept his qualities. Then again, he needs to regain his rhythm after a season without playing. Steed can match what we are looking for in a sporting and economic sense.
"His experience, his personality, even if he does not talk much, he can bring to our group."