News Focus
- US international Tanner Tessmann suffers season-ending muscle strain
- The Lyon midfielder misses clashes with Toulouse FC and RC Lens
- World Cup participation this summer remains unaffected by the setback
- Teammate Orel Mangala could return from thigh injury this weekend
- Mangala aims to impress Belgium manager Rudi Garcia before the tournament
Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Tanner Tessmann will sit out the rest of the domestic season. Manager Paulo Fonseca confirmed the blow during his press conference on Friday.
The 24-year-old American has damaged a muscle. He will not travel with the squad for Sunday’s trip to Toulouse FC. He will also miss the final league match against RC Lens next weekend.
Tessmann has featured in 41 matches this term. He started 28 of those games and scored twice. However, his time on the pitch has dropped in recent weeks.
The injury does not endanger his spot at the upcoming World Cup. The tournament takes place in the United States this summer. The player has 14 caps and one goal for his country.
Meanwhile, Orel Mangala could make his comeback this Sunday. The Belgian midfielder hurt his thigh against AJ Auxerre at the end of April. Fonseca revealed that Mangala warmed up with the team on Friday. The coach expects him to complete full training on Saturday.
Mangala recently recovered from a cruciate ligament problem. He now hopes to catch the eye of Belgium boss Rudi Garcia. Strong performances could earn him a place in the squad for the global tournament.