The Rennes striker, injured at the ankle in mid-October, could return to training this week, but his participation in the match against Lille on Sunday remains very uncertain.
Estéban Lepaul, goal scorer for Stade Rennais, seems to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. According to all indications, the Breton striker should return to training as early as this Thursday or Friday, nearly three weeks after his ankle injury sustained on October 18. This is reassuring news for the red and black camp, deprived of their prolific scorer for several weeks.
However, optimism must remain measured. While a return to collective training represents a crucial step in the recovery process, a return to competition is a completely different story. The home match against Lille next Sunday at 3 PM at Roazhon Park currently appears very hypothetical for Lepaul. The time needed to regain rhythm and full confidence in his ankle could require a few more days, or even an additional week.
Beyond club matters, it is also the Bleus squad that is drawing attention. Didier Deschamps must announce his selection this Friday, and Lepaul, despite his prolific form this season, is likely to miss out on selection. An absence that would confirm the medical caution surrounding his injury, with technical staff generally preferring to see a player at 100% before throwing them back into the international deep end.
For Stade Rennais, managing this comeback thus becomes a strategic issue. Between the desire to recover their best goal scorer and the necessity of not rushing things, the Breton club will need to find the right balance. A delicate choice that could influence the rest of the club's season, both domestically and in Europe.
However, optimism must remain measured. While a return to collective training represents a crucial step in the recovery process, a return to competition is a completely different story. The home match against Lille next Sunday at 3 PM at Roazhon Park currently appears very hypothetical for Lepaul. The time needed to regain rhythm and full confidence in his ankle could require a few more days, or even an additional week.
Beyond club matters, it is also the Bleus squad that is drawing attention. Didier Deschamps must announce his selection this Friday, and Lepaul, despite his prolific form this season, is likely to miss out on selection. An absence that would confirm the medical caution surrounding his injury, with technical staff generally preferring to see a player at 100% before throwing them back into the international deep end.
For Stade Rennais, managing this comeback thus becomes a strategic issue. Between the desire to recover their best goal scorer and the necessity of not rushing things, the Breton club will need to find the right balance. A delicate choice that could influence the rest of the club's season, both domestically and in Europe.
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Source: Ouest-France