Injury Rules Out Nkoudou for Nantes Clash with Stade Rennais
By BBC News
FC Nantes will be without promising young midfielder Georges-Kévin Nkoudou for their Ligue 1 fixture against Stade Rennais on Sunday, as the 19-year-old continues his recovery from injury.
Nkoudou, who has been sidelined with an adductor issue, has not yet returned to full fitness and has been left out of the 19-man squad named by manager Michel Der Zakarian for matchday 12 of the French top flight.
Also absent from the squad is forward Johan Audel, who is struggling with a thigh injury. However, there is positive news for Nantes fans as American international Alejandro Bedoya returns to the team after recovering from a recent layoff.
Venezuelan striker Fernando Aristeguieta, meanwhile, has been sent to play with the club’s CFA (reserve) side and will not feature in the first-team squad this weekend.
Nantes, who currently sit mid-table in Ligue 1, will be looking to bounce back on home soil after a mixed run of form. Their opponents, Stade Rennais, are just one point behind in the standings, making Sunday’s clash an important encounter for both sides aiming to climb the table.
The full FC Nantes squad selected for the match is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Maxime Dupé, Rémy Riou
Defenders: Hicham Alhadhur, Issa Cissokho, Papy Djilobodji, Olivier Veigneau, Oswaldo Vizcarrondo
Midfielders: Alejandro Bedoya, Vincent Bessat, Rémi Gomis, Jordan Veretout, Adrien Thomasson (Note: Hansen likely refers to Kian Hansen), Birama Touré, Valentin Rongier
Forwards: Yacine Bammou, Ismaël Bangoura, Serge Gakpé, Itay Shechter
The absence of Nkoudou, a player considered one of the club’s brightest young talents, will be a blow for Nantes’ attacking options. The teenager has shown glimpses of his potential this season, offering pace and flair on the wings.
With injuries limiting squad depth, Der Zakarian will be hoping his returning players can fill the gap and that his team can deliver a strong performance at Stade de la Beaujoire.
Kick-off is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, and a tight contest is expected as both teams look to consolidate their positions in the Ligue 1 table.
