Yannick Cahuzac has confirmed that Abdallah Sima (25) returned from the international break with an injury. L’Équipe understands that the RC Lens forward will be absent until the end of November.

Sima had started the season well for Lens and was prominent under Dino Toppmoller, who was replaced as manager by Cahuzac just before the international break. Sima had spent the international break representing Senegal, however, he sustained a thigh injury with his national team, as confirmed by Cahuzac during a press conference on Wednesday. He is not expected back until after the next international break. It is an untimely injury given the upcoming hectic schedule, with Lens juggling Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League fixtures.

There is, however, some good news for Les Sang et Or. Yacine Titraoui is expected to return in the midfield, whilst Saud Abdulhamid, a regular at right-back last season, could also return on Friday for the game against Olympique Lyonnais.