Marseille’s midfield plans have been disrupted before the next demanding stretch has even begun. Pierre-Émile Højbjerg has returned from Denmark duty with a thigh injury and is expected to be out for at least two weeks, leaving Bruno Genesio with another immediate selection problem.
The move
Højbjerg came off after only 10 minutes of Denmark’s 1-0 win over Wales on Sunday. He returned to Marseille’s La Commanderie training base on Wednesday, where medical examinations confirmed a thigh lesion.
The injury is not considered severe, but the Danish international must rest before resuming running work. Marseille are hoping he can return in around 15 days, although his recovery will be monitored closely and that remains the most optimistic timetable.
Genesio had hoped Denmark would manage Højbjerg’s minutes more carefully during the international break. Instead, the midfielder started all four of his country’s matches.
The timing is particularly difficult for OM, who are about to enter a run of eight fixtures in 29 days. Højbjerg is set to miss at least two Ligue 1 games and two Europa League matches.
The French season around it
Marseille travel to Troyes on Sunday evening, with ESTAC sitting one point above them in the Ligue 1 table. Genesio is already looking for alternatives in an area that has been short of depth for much of the season.
There have been some encouraging developments, even if they have been quickly overshadowed by Højbjerg’s setback. Tochukwu Nnadi has been back in full team training for around 10 days and featured in last Saturday’s friendly against Montpellier.
Geoffrey Kondogbia rejoined group training on Tuesday and is expected to be available for the trip to Troyes. A starting role, however, may come too soon for him.
- Pierre-Émile Højbjerg: ruled out for a minimum of two weeks with a thigh injury.
- Tochukwu Nnadi: back in collective sessions and played against Montpellier in a friendly.
- Geoffrey Kondogbia: returned to training on Tuesday and could travel to Troyes.
- Amine Gouiri: being assessed after a muscular issue.
- Amine Harit: also recovering from a muscle problem.
Genesio has not yet put his side through a full tactical preparation this week, partly because international players have returned gradually. He will also want to assess Gouiri and Harit after their respective muscle complaints.
The final sessions on Friday and Saturday should offer a clearer indication of Marseille’s plans. The 4-4-2 system used against Paris Saint-Germain has received positive feedback internally, but Højbjerg’s absence has made the choice in midfield more complicated.
