MHSC-Lorient: Fayad absent, Chotard and Tamari present in the Montpellier group

Mousa Tamari souffrait d'une voûte plantaire cette semaine. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

Si le jeune milieu de terrain est finalement forfait, ses deux partenaires ont bien été appelés par Michel Der Zakarian dans le groupe du MHSC, ce samedi 6 avril, amené à défier Lorient dimanche à La Mosson.

One out of two. Announced uncertain on Friday by Michel Der Zakarian, Khalil Fayad and Mousa Tamari will not live the same Sunday. The young midfielder was not selected by his coach in the group revealed this Saturday, while the Jordanian winger will indeed be present to face Lorient on Sunday (3 p.m.) at the Mosson, during the 28th day of Ligue 1.

Friday in front of the media, the Hérault coach announced uncertainties about these two players. Only Fayad therefore checked the "package" this Saturday. The fault lies in persistent pain "in the back", according to the words of Der Zak the day before, which has been handicapping the community for several weeks.

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Fayad, 19, was able to shine during the last international break, notably delivering two assists during a friendly against Germany with the ;France U20 team (4-4). But after a first half of the season during which he accumulated playing time in an unusual position of winger or left midfielder, the usual relay player struggles to convince his coach. Against Le Havre last Sunday, Fayad played the third match in four days without coming off the bench.

Three defenders on the flank

Mousa Tamari does not experience the same problems. But the Jordanian, dazzling in the selection – including 5 goals in two games against Pakistan during the break – "is less influential", admitted Der Zak on Friday. Decreased by an injured shoulder in the Asian Cup final, Tamari had to deal with an arch problem this week. Although he trained on Friday, especially in front of goal, he remained uncertain for the Merlus reception.

Tamari will indeed be present, like Joris Chotard and Wahbi Khazri. Injured in a calf in Nice on March 8, Chotard missed the last two MHSC matches (against PSG and Le Havre). But he should regain his starting place in the midfield this Sunday. Khazri, for his part, has served his suspension for accumulating yellow cards and could find a starting place at the forefront of an attack where Akor Adams is struggling to assert himself again.

Michel Der Zakarian will also have to deal with the absences of "Kiki" Kouyaté, victim of a concussion in Le Havre, but also Issiaga Sylla, who is still treating a calf, as well as Théo Sainte-Luce, injured in a thigh.

In Lorient, Benjamin Mendy should feature again in the squad after a period of injury. Like Quentin Boisgard, recovered from a metatarsal.