**Saint-Étienne Include Young Defender Ben Karamoko for Trip to Caen**
AS Saint-Étienne will make the journey to Normandy to face Caen on Sunday in Ligue 1’s ninth round of fixtures, with manager Christophe Galtier naming a 19-man squad that includes promising young defender Ben Karamoko.
The selection comes just three days after the team’s midweek trip to Rome in European competition, a schedule that has tested the squad’s depth. Notably, Cameroon international Benoît Assou-Ekotto returns to the side, providing experience on the left flank after missing the last outing.
However, the Greens will be without Guinean centre-back Florentin Pogba, who has not been included in the squad. Defensive absences have prompted Galtier to call upon 20-year-old Karamoko, who will be hoping to seize the opportunity to impress at senior level.
The Saint-Étienne squad for the Caen match is as follows:
Ruffier, Moulin – Perrin, Bayal, Clerc, Brison, Polomat, Assou-Ekotto, Karamoko – Pajot, Corgnet, Eysseric, Lemoine, Diomandé – Bahebeck, Roux, Monnet-Paquet, Hamouma, Beric.
Saint-Étienne head into the fixture aiming to maintain their strong start to the Ligue 1 campaign, while also managing player fatigue from a busy European schedule. Caen, meanwhile, will be looking to capitalise on home advantage as they seek points to strengthen their position in the league table.
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