Auxerre travel west to Rennes on Sunday with a lighter defensive hand, even if the international break did not add to Will Still’s injury concerns.
The AJ Auxerre coach confirmed that no player returned hurt from national-team duty before the Ligue 1 trip to Roazhon Park, scheduled for 17:15 in the sixth round. However, the visitors will still be without centre-back Christ Makosso and left-sided wing-back Rayan Mandengue.
Makosso suspended after Brest booking
Makosso, the Congolese central defender, is unavailable because a suspended sanction has been activated following the yellow card he received against Brest on 20 September, a 3-1 Auxerre win.
He had already served an automatic one-match ban against Angers after being sent off at Lens on 22 August, but the subsequent booking against Brest has brought another suspension.
Mandengue will also miss the Rennes fixture. The Cameroonian left wing-back suffered an adductor problem during Auxerre’s 4-2 friendly victory over Clermont on 2 October.
Fofana recovery taking longer than expected
Sékou Fofana remains unavailable as well. The French-Ivorian left-back has yet to feature this season and is continuing treatment for pubalgia.
Still said the recovery has taken “longer than expected”, leaving Auxerre short of options on the left before their visit to Rennes.
Long-term absentees moving closer
There was more encouraging news from Auxerre’s medical update for several longer-term absentees.
- Marvin Senaya is back working on the pitch as he recovers from a thigh injury.
- Telli Siwé has resumed field work following his knee problem.
- Bryan Okoh, also sidelined by a knee injury, has restarted running.
Senaya and Siwé could be available after the next international break in mid-November, while Okoh is more likely to return in January.
