Marseille’s defensive depth has taken a hard hit during the international break, with Canada centre-back Derek Cornelius facing an extended spell out after suffering a hip injury in training with his national team.
Key takeaways
- Derek Cornelius is expected to miss around three months after injuring his hip while with Canada.
- The 28-year-old was taken to hospital on Wednesday but is not due to undergo surgery.
- Cornelius had started Marseille’s match against Besiktas on 17 September.
- Tochukwu Nnadi has returned to training after choosing not to have an operation on his meniscus injury.
- Geoffrey Kondogbia is targeting an early-October return to sessions, while Amine Harit’s problem is not considered serious.
Cornelius likely out until the new year
Cornelius picked up the injury during a Canada training session on Wednesday and was transported to hospital for assessment. Surgery will not be required, but the anticipated recovery period is close to three months.
That timetable means the defender is unlikely to be available to Roberto De Zerbi before the opening weeks of 2026. It is a frustrating interruption for the 28-year-old, who had been handed a starting place against Besiktas on 17 September.
In Marseille’s central-defensive options, Cornelius had been regarded as the fourth choice behind Geoffrey Kondogbia when fit, Nayef Aguerd and CJ Egan-Riley. His absence removes another solution from a squad already managing several fitness concerns.
Midfield injuries easing at La Commanderie
There is better news elsewhere in the Marseille treatment room. Nigerian midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi is fit enough to take part in work at La Commanderie after his meniscus injury, sustained against Monaco on 30 August.
Nnadi decided against an operation and has now resumed training activity as he works towards a competitive return.
Kondogbia, who also came off injured at the Stade Louis-II, is expected to restart training at the beginning of October. Marseille are also relaxed about Harit’s condition after examinations indicated a muscular discomfort rather than a major injury.
The Morocco international is not expected to be sidelined for long, offering Marseille some relief as the schedule begins to tighten again.
