Saint-Étienne will be without Ghanaian forward Augustine Boakye for the remainder of the season after he underwent ankle surgery during the international break.
The setback was confirmed by head coach Eirik Horneland on Thursday, just two days before ASSE faces Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
Speaking at a press conference, Horneland acknowledged the significant loss for his squad. “He had ankle surgery during this break,” the Norwegian manager stated, highlighting the blow to his attacking options ahead of a crucial clash against one of Europe’s strongest teams.
Injury Adds to Boakye’s Recent Struggles
Boakye suffered the injury during training earlier this week, adding to what has been a challenging period for both him and his teammates.
Despite a strong start to the year—scoring three goals in January, including a brace against Reims and a spectacular strike against Nantes—his form had dipped in recent weeks.
The Ghanaian winger was benched for Saint-Étienne’s last two league matches against Le Havre and Montpellier, with the outcome of the latter match still pending a decision from the LFP.
With Boakye sidelined for the rest of the campaign, ASSE must find alternative attacking solutions as they fight to improve their league standing.
Squad Adjustments Ahead of PSG Clash
For Saturday’s high-stakes encounter against PSG, Horneland is expected to rely on his attacking trio of Lucas Stassin, Zuriko Davitashvili, and Irvin Cardona.
The team’s preparations, however, come with further injury concerns. Defenders Mickaël Nadé and Aïmen Moueffek remain doubtful for the fixture, leaving the coach with potential gaps in his squad selection.
There is some positive news for the Greens, as New Zealand midfielder Ben Old could make his return after a five-month absence due to a knee sprain.
His potential comeback may provide a much-needed boost to Saint-Étienne as they brace for one of their toughest challenges of the season.
