International Break: Injury and Return Updates
As the final stretch of this first long international break gets underway, here is the latest news on injuries and returns at Ligue 1 McDonald's clubs. The league resumes on Friday with Lens-OL, ahead of the rest of matchday 6 on Saturday and Sunday.
HOJBJERG AND MBAPPE HURT ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Several players were unfortunately injured on international duty. With the French Under-21s, Lille's Ethan Mbappé (ankle) and Paris's Senny Mayulu (thigh) had to come off during the first half of France-Estonia on September 29. Both midfielders are expected to miss several weeks. Spain's Ferran Torres also returned from international duty earlier than planned with ankle pain, though it does not seem serious. Other players injured during the break include Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (muscle problem) with Denmark, Derek Cornelius with Canada, and the duo of Himad Abdelli and Amine Gouiri with Algeria. OM, however, hopes to have the latter available for Sunday's trip to Troyes.
On the good news front, Ansu Fati played again in a friendly with AS Monaco, as did Teze, Soubeir and Zakaria, who had withdrawn from the Switzerland squad. On the other hand, Aleksandr Golovin left the Russia camp after a knock to the shin, but the situation does not seem serious. At RC Lens, Robin Risser had withdrawn from the France squad but has already played again in a friendly. Saud Abdulhamid and Yacine Titraoui were also seen back in that match. Their teammate Abdallah Sima, however, was absent from the latest match on Sunday, as was Lyon defender Moussa Niakhaté.
The Le Guen setback
During this break, Toulouse's Aron Donnum, Abu Francis and Ismaïl Diallo got some playing time back with "Téfécé." The same goes for Noah Edjouma with Stade Brestois 29. The Finistère club, however, has lost Raphaël Le Guen (fibula) for several months because of a training injury. The news is all the worse as Brendan Chardonnet is still short of full fitness.
At Paris FC, Otavio and Nhoa Sangui played again in a friendly against Red Star. Samir Chergui, meanwhile, played again with the Algeria national team. At Troyes, Alexandre Phliponeau was seen back in action. At Lorient, Panos Katseris could return as soon as the next match after a muscle injury before the break. There is also a doubt over Théo Le Bris, who was hurt in training.
Brunner and Weah among the suspended
Among the certain absentees, there are also the three players suspended for matchday 6 of Ligue 1 McDonald's: Monaco forward Paris Brunner, Le Mans's new defender Djibril Sidibé, and Marseille captain Timothy Weah, who was sent off in OM-PSG.
