It was announced by L’Équipe earlier on Tuesday that Eric Dier (31) had suffered a fresh injury blow. He could now be joined by another AS Monaco defender on the sidelines. 

Dier had been out for around one month when he was included in the matchday squad to face RC Lens just before the international break. The Englishman had suffered a hamstring injury and he has now suffered another muscular injury. His period of absence is currently unclear. 

To add to Sébastien Pocognoli’s defensive headache, Mohammed Salisu, who has played a more prominent role due to the injury crisis at the back, has now himself succumbed to injury. 

Salisu has been on international duty with Ghana and it was confirmed by their football association that the centre-back had suffered a bilateral medial collateral ligament sprain (knee). The injury has been assessed by both the Black Stars medical team and that of Monaco. He has now returned to the latter.

Christian Mawissa is also not ready to return, limiting Pocognoli’s options ahead of Saturday’s match against Stade Rennais.