Eric Abidal has been forgiven for his weekend walk-out and is set to start for Monaco in today’s Coupe de France quarter-final against Lens.

Told he was not playing against Lille on Sunday, club captain Abidal then shocked manager Claudio Ranieri by leaving the Stade Louis II rather than staying on to support the team.

The 34-year-old former France defender’s behaviour raised questions about his future at the club, but Abidal has apologised and met with club vice-president Vadim Vasilyev to discuss the aberration.

The upshot is that Ranieri will select the veteran former Barcelona player for cup duty, with the Monaco boss saying: “There is no problem with Abidal.

“There has been a meeting with Vadim Vasilyev. He gave his excuses. It’s done.

“He’s going to play. I’m not one to be resentful. But his excuses were essential. I wasn’t expecting that attitude, even if sometimes I can understand it. But the captain always has to be with the team.”

Abidal has not played for Monaco since the February 9 match against Paris St Germain, largely due to illness.

Another notable inclusion for the principality side will be goalkeeper Sergio Romero, the goalkeeper hoping to start for Argentina in the World Cup this summer.

Romero would have hoped for a full season in Monaco’s first team after joining from Sampdoria last summer, but quite the opposite has been the case, with Danijel Subasic keeping him out of the Ligue 1 line-up.

Needing to impress ahead of Brazil 2014, Romero, who has been Monaco’s regular goalkeeper in cup competitions, is hoping to finish the season with a medal.

“When you are second choice, you have to be mentally strong to stay confident,” Romero said.

“I’m a competitor, I love challenges, I want to show what I can do against Lens. We want to go to Paris, play the final and win this Coupe de France.

“Winning the World Cup is every footballer’s dream. But for the moment, I’m focused on the Coupe de France.”