Arsenal have brought Gabriel Jesus into their Champions League squad ahead of Wednesday’s game against Club Bruges.

The 28-year-old was initially not part of Arsenal’s squad for the league phase of the competition, registered in September, but he has been brought in for Max Dowman.

Dowman, 15, became the youngest-ever player to appear in a Champions League match after coming on as a substitute in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague on November 4.

Arsenal’s confirmed that the teenager sustained an ankle injury while playing for the Under-21s on Saturday.  Jesus will now be eligible to play in Arsenal’s match in Belgium on Wednesday.

Speaking on Tuesday, manager Mikel Arteta said: “We expected him (Jesus) to be out until December, but Gabby kept pushing everyone and saying, ‘I’m going to be earlier, earlier, earlier’ – and he’s done it.”

When asked about Dowman, he said: “We did some scans, and he’s going to be out for weeks.”

Newly amended UEFA rules state that outfield players can be replaced in the European competition’s squads in the event of a “long-term” injury with an absence of at least 60 days.

Jesus, who has been sidelined since January after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his left knee. The Brazilian returned to training in November and was an unused substitute against Chelsea and Brentford.

Mikel Arteta confirmed on November 28 that Jesus had featured in a behind-closed-doors match to help the forward get up to speed.

The Arsenal manager added: “We have to see (if Jesus can feature during the busy festive period). He’s been out 11 months and you need that progression to see how his body and that knee reacts, and what else he needs.

“With the players that are available as well, it has to make sense with the balance of the squad. The good thing is it’s very close at the moment.

“It’s what we see every single day and how he reacts to the changes he had in load. Then he needs to get into the chemistry of the team, understanding the things in match-time which is very different to anything he tried to do in training. It’s about making those gaps as short as possible.”