A 2018 World Cup winner with France, Kimpembe missed the entire 2023-24 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair his Achilles, after featuring in just 11 Ligue 1 fixtures for Les Parisiens during the 2022-23 season.

Kimpembe’s Achilles rupture came just two weeks after returning from a hamstring strain which kept him sidelined for three months.

He underwent his Achilles operation in March 2023, and then another one midway through last season. But he suffered a further setback in August of this year as he experienced muscle discomfort in his left leg.

It has been a lengthy recovery process for Kimpembe, who has worked on muscle strengthening while doing support exercises and physiotherapy.

While he didn’t participate in the entire training session, his presence is an encouraging sign for a side that have won just one of their previous three matches across all competitions.

A timetable for his return is yet to be defined, but he is on the list of players eligible to feature for PSG in the UEFA Champions League.

Over the past two years, he has struggled to stay fit, missing out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of an injury and being replaced by Axel Disasi.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre

It’s a topic that the retired defender has been keen to discuss before and in a previous podcast with VAL Foot, the centre-back argued that football was becoming far less focused on creativity and was instead moving towards a more homogenous game. 

Varane pointed towards an era he developed in, one which appeared to have more number tens and a style of play which provided these creative pivots within the team spaces to operate and influence the game, like with the Real Madrid side he joined which possessed players like Kaká and Mesut Özil. 

Raphaël Varane: “Football should remain a game of mistakes.” 

The former Manchester United centre-back expanded on this point in his interview with the French paper stating “There is much less creativity [in the game], fewer geniuses on the pitch.” The former World Cup winner added, “Everything is robotic, there are game patterns that make it difficult to shake up a team’s block. There is much less freedom.” 

However, the former Real Madrid star was keen to point towards a manager he had worked under who has made it a point to allow players far more freedom, “Carlo Ancelotti allows a lot [of freedom], but the new generation of coaches allow less. Football should remain a game of mistakes, but it is much less so.” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

The arrival of a new manager, Will Still, at Lens over the summer did little to change Spierings’ situation in the north of France, and the midfielder was allowed to leave permanently when he joined Brøndby IF. 

In a press conference, Spierings confirmed that he had failed to adjust to life in Lens. “When I arrived at the club, I felt that I didn’t get along with my teammates and the coaches. It was difficult with almost everyone. I had a lot of trouble with that compared to Toulouse where I had success with a lot of friends.” 

The Dutchman who has represented his country in the underage brackets continued explaining, “The French are not open to new people. When you don’t speak French, it can be difficult. After four games, the coach called me and told me that I didn’t have a place in the team.” 

Spierings a Coupe de France winner with Toulouse

Spierings had a far more successful time during his stint with Toulouse. The midfielder helped the club win promotion to Ligue 1 by winning the second division in 2022, and the Coupe de France in 2023. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Still’s wishes were granted as he became the manager of the Racing club. The brothers of the former Reims manager, Edward and Nicolas Still, have formed part of his coaching staff. Nicolas was also part of the Belgian-born head coach’s staff during his time at the Champagne club. Edward has previously been a coach at Kortrijk and Eupen.

The brothers have all gone into coaching despite having no playing experience at the professional level. Now a trio at Lens, the former Preston North End youth coach is proud to be working so closely with his brothers after it became a dealbreaker in negotiations. Commenting on working with his brothers, the Lens head coach said, “My first condition was that I want to be surrounded by my two brothers.” 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The Belgian coach announced on Friday that central defender Jonathan Gradit suffered an ankle sprain, joining a long list of absentees for Les Sang et Or this weekend.

Sidi Bane and Hamzat Ojediran are out because of a hamstring strain, while Jimmy Cabot is still recovering from a knee issue.

Other absentees include Hervé Koffi (back), Martín Satriano (ACL), and Kevin Danso (heart), Neil El Aynaoui (muscle), while Rémy Labeau and Anass Zaroury are both suspended.

The news regarding Danso is encouraging in the long term as the Austrian defender published a medical statement on his social media handle that authorised him to play again.

Four of Still’s players will feature on the international stage next week, including Andy Diouf (France U-21), Przemyslaw Frankowski (Poland), Nampalys Mendy (Senegal) and Deiver Machado (Colombia).

Heading into this encounter, Lens are sixth in the table with 10 points and undefeated to this stage of the campaign.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre

Instead, Abdukodir Khusanov, Facundo Medina and Ruben Aguilar will start. When fit, Danso is expected to replace Khusanov, who has nonetheless been impressive in the Austria international’s absence. 

Danso isn’t the only absentee. Anass Zaroury and Rémy Labeau-Lascary are both suspended for Lens, whilst other first-teamers such as Jonathan Gradit, Jimmy Cabot, Neil El-Aynaoui and Martín Satriano are out injured. The latter recently suffered an ACL injury and is now expected to be out for much of the season.

Lens likely lineup v Strasbourg

Brice Samba; Facundo Medina, Abdukodir Khusanov, Ruben Aguilar; Deiver Machado, Andy Diouf, Adrien Thomasson, Przemyslaw Frankowski; Angelo Fulgini; Florian Sotoca, M’Bala Nzola. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Liam Rosenior’s side are in top form currently and the manager is therefore expected to trust in (almost) the same set of players against Lens. That means that Djordje Petrovic, who impressed against Marseille, will keep his place in the Strasbourg goal against Lens.

Diego Moreira will continue to function in what is becoming an increasingly familiar role at left-wing-back; Andrey Santos will start in the midfield and Sébastien Nanasi will partner Emanuel Emegha up front. 

Strasbourg likely line-up v Lens

Djordje Petrovic; Abakar Sylla, Saïdou Sow, Guéla Doué; Diego Moreira, Ismaël Doukouré, Andrey Santos, Dilane Bakwa; Habib Diarra; Sébastien Nanasi, Emanuel Emegha. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Donning the 47 shirt, the former Dijon winger could be set to make his Ligue 1 debut against the club from Northern France. Messi is a new signing at the Stade de la Meinau after completing a move worth €1.2m, including bonuses from National 1 side Dijon. The 17-year-old has signed a three-year contract with Strasbourg. 

The promising French talent was expected to be integrated into the Racing club’s academy this season. However, Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior must have been impressed with Messi in training and has taken the decision to include him in his squad for the first time with a view to a potential debut. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Cloarec arrived at Rennes in 2021, firstly as an assistant CEO to club president Nicolas Holveck, before being named interim president in 2022, replacing Holveck who stepped down for health reasons. Holveck sadly passed away this year.

The reasons behind Cloarec’s dismissal by the club’s owners – luxury mogul billionaire François Pinault and his son, François-Henri – remain unclear, although Get French Football News understands that Cloarec’s discretion regarding the club’s sporting struggles this season – three league losses in six games – and the domestic TV rights deal debacle might have led the owners to question his leadership qualities. “I would like to pay tribute to Olivier’s commitment and exemplary professionalism in serving Stade Rennais F.C. in a complex context”, François-Henri Pinault added in Rennes’ club statement.

The latter indicates that his successor will be tasked to “inspire a new dynamic of success for Stade Rennais F.C. in the short, medium and long term”, which means Cloarec was no longer seen as the right man to spearhead Rennes’ ambitions. “I’m delighted and proud to be joining Stade Rennais F.C.” says Arnaud Pouille. “I’m already 100% committed to the future of this prestigious club, and I’d like to thank François-Henri Pinault for his confidence. I’m convinced that Stade Rennais F.C. has everything it takes to assert its sporting ambitions in the coming national and European competitions.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

The 26-year-old was expected to be leaving the Stade Bollaert-Delelis during the summer transfer window. Danso had agreed personal terms with Roma and had begun to undergo medical tests before being announced as a new player of the Italian capital club. However, this is where the potential heart issue was identified. Roma medical staff determined that the former Southampton defender had failed his medical due to the complication and the potential move collapsed.

The positive news comes as a boost to Les Sang et Or, who have been without Danso whilst he has undergone additional tests for the potential problem. Following these tests, the Ligue 1 club have confirmed that the complication has been erased and the defender is once again fit to play. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith