Malick Fofana
LYORanking
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Available for Rennes clash
Fofana (ankle) is back available for Sunday's clash against Rennes, according to coach Paulo Fonseca, per Le Progres OL. "We're getting Malick and Ernest back, who are in the squad for Rennes, and who can help us if we need them. Our two flanks have more options now, that's good."
Analysis: Fofana's inclusion in the squad brings an end to one of the most frustrating injury sagas of Lyon's season, with the Belgian winger having been through ankle surgery and a subsequent hardware removal procedure before finally getting back to full team training this week. Coach Fonseca's careful wording suggests a bench role rather than an immediate return to the starting lineup, but having him available at all for such an important fixture in Lyon's Champions League qualification push is a genuine boost for the Gones heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
Not yet ready
Fofana (ankle) was absent from Friday's team session and remains in individual training, ruling him out of Saturday's clash against Auxerre, according to Olympique et Lyonnais.
Analysis: Fofana had returned to team training earlier in the week and been targeted for a Saturday return, making his step back to individual sessions a frustrating late development. The Belgian winger has had an incredibly difficult road back this season following ankle surgery and a subsequent procedure to remove hardware, and Lyon will not push him back before he is genuinely ready despite the end of the season fast approaching. His return remains the most anticipated comeback for the Gones, but the timeline is now unclear once again.
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