Key Takeaways
- Orel Mangala will spend approximately two weeks recovering from his latest fitness problem
- The Belgian midfielder suffered the setback during the first half against Auxerre last weekend
- He hopes to return for the Toulouse match after sitting out the Rennes fixture
Olympique Lyonnais have confirmed that midfielder Orel Mangala faces another short-term absence. Medical staff examined the player after he left the pitch early during last weekend’s action.
The 28-year-old Belgian international lasted just 34 minutes in Lyon’s 3-2 victory over Auxerre. This fresh concern arrives only weeks after he completed his recovery from a serious knee problem.
Mangala previously endured a nightmare 308-day spell away from the game. A cruciate ligament tear kept the former Nottingham Forest star out of 35 matches for both Lyon and Everton.
Club doctors now estimate the midfielder needs around 15 days to overcome this new issue. The timetable means he will definitely miss the upcoming clash against Stade Rennais.
However, there is better news regarding his return. The former Everton loanee could feature when Les Gones host Toulouse in their next fixture after the Rennes match.
This latest setback blocks Mangala’s attempts to regain full match sharpness following his long rehabilitation period.