MHSC, decimated by injuries for several weeks, finds Joris Chotard

Joris Chotard était absent depuis cinq semaines. Alexandre Dimou

The defensive midfielder, who has been out for five weeks, should return to the starting lineup on Sunday in Reims.

He has recovered from his injuries. Five weeks after his calf injury, Montpellier defensive midfielder Joris Chotard is preparing to make his return on Sunday in Reims for the 7th day of Ligue 1. Since the start of the week, the Olympic vice-champion has returned to the squad and is therefore applying for a starting spot.

Faced with the suspension of Rabby Nzingoula, a tireless revelation at the start of the season, and winger Tanguy Coulibaly, Michel Der Zakarian should partner him in front of the defense with Birama Touré, probably starting for the first time this season.

Transfer aborted

Chotard injured his soleus on August 31 during the home defeat against Nantes (1-3), the day after the summer transfer window closed. In contact with the German club Wolfsburg, the former Espoir international was deeply disappointed by this aborted transfer.

Is Chotard's return rushed?? Last spring, the former Espoir international (23 years old) had observed four weeks of rest after contracting the same injury to the soleus in Nice.

The silver medallist at the Paris Olympics, and his 154 matches in Ligue 1, is highly anticipated. He is now a key player in a team rejuvenated by the Montpellier coach's sidelining of several thirty-somethings.

Der Zak is pleased with Chotard's return, but deplores the absence of nine players to face Reims, ranked in 4th place after having drawn Paris SG (1-1) and Marseille (2-2). The Montpellier coach is somewhat concerned about the health of central defender “Kiki” Kouyaté, who will undergo surgery on his right knee and will be out for about two months (see elsewhere).

Read also: Kiki Kouyaté's injury, what defensive solutions are there at MHSC for the next matches ?

In addition to the Malian international, Der Zak is without six other injured players. Defender Christopher Jullien (knee), young forwards Othmane Maamma and Yanis Issoufou (thigh), and winger Mousa Tamari, who suffered a serious ankle sprain on September 6 with Jordan, are convalescing. Left-back Théo Sainte-Luce (thigh) and forward Axel Guéguin, who underwent knee surgery in February, have resumed training with the group, but are not fit to play again. Their return is expected at the end of the month.

Striker Arnaud Nordin, “visibly suffering from the flu for two days”, has not trained since the beginning of the week. There is less urgency at left-back. Young Lucas Mincarelli, who is set to start a third time, and Guinean international Issiaga Sylla are operational.

In this new-look team, the youngsters are on the rise. Notably goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud, who has been confirmed in his starting position after two reassuring outings against Auxerre and Monaco.

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