L’Equipe reports that LOSC defender Bafodé Diakité (22) could be out for up to ‘three months’ after the winter break according to his manager Paulo Fonesca.
This is because the player is scheduled to undergo an operation on his shoulder after suffering for several months with a reoccurring issue.
The initial injury was picked up when the defender was on international duty with the France under-21s squad this summer and was exacerbated in August when Lille played the first leg of their Europa Conference League tie against HNK Rijeka.
Diakité continued to play for most of the season despite suffering but was absent from the matchday squad for November, with the player only just returning to the bench in Lille’s last fixture against FC Metz.
He will likely not feature again before the winter’s break, with Les Douges manager, Fonesca, clarifying that the right-back would be included again in the squad for Sunday’s match against Clermont Foot 63 but would only play if absolutely necessary.
This will represent another lengthy period on the sidelines for the young talent who only last season was out for a month with a hamstring injury.
