Pierre-Emile Højbjerg will stay in the treatment room as Olympique de Marseille prepare for their return to Ligue 1 action away to OGC Nice on Friday. The Danish midfielder has been managing muscular discomfort for over a week and did not take part in the squad’s final session attended by Get French Football News.

According to a report from La Provence, Marseille are taking precautions with the Danish midfielder to not aggravate the issue, especially as Les Phocéens welcome Newcastle in the Champions League only days after the short trip across the Côte d’Azur.

Højbjerg’s continued absence is another setback for De Zerbi, whose squad has been stretched since the beginning of the season. The Marseille coach lamented “many absentees” during his press conference attended by Get French Football News.

“We’ve worked well, we’ve got a few players back even though we’ve lost some too. Vermeeren has been with us since Monday, Aubameyang has only played one match and arrived earlier,” added De Zerbi.

Defenders Facundo Medina and Nayef Aguerd will be missing the two games, with Michael Amir Murillo who suffered an injury whilst on international duty. “He’s an irreplaceable player, but we still have to play when he’s not there,” said De Zerbi on Aguerd – who is suffering from a pubalgia according to a medical press release from OM.