Samuel Kalu out of Marseille clash, as Ben Arfa is set for Bordeaux debut

Ligue 1 club Girondins de Bordeaux has confirmed that Samuel Kalu would be out of their clash with Olympique de Marseille.

Bordeux will travel to the Stade Velodrome on Saturday  to face André Villas-Boas’ men.

Kalu sustained a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria. He was substituted during Super Eagles’ 1-0 defeat to Algeria for Moses Simon in the 50th minute. He was subsequently out of action during the 1-1 draw against Tunisia.

Kalu scored for the club in the 3-0 win over Dijon before the international break. Jean Gasset will therefore have to field a replacement for the 23-year-old Nigerian.

An official statement from the club said the winger had damage on his left thigh. They added that his return to action would depend on the progress of the injury.

Gasset’s men need to win to stay within touch of Ligue 1 leaders Rennes. The Champions League qualifier currently hold a five-point lead at the top of the table.

Therefore Bordeaux will have the opportunity on Saturday to reduce the deficit to two if they win their game, with the hope that Julien Stephan’s team will lose to Dijon inside Stade Gaston Gerard.

Rennes have been unbeaten in their last five games.

Kalu, who was wanted by Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce during the transfer, will now be on the sidelines with the hope of making a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, Hatem Ben Arfa is in line to make his Girondins de Bordeaux debut against his former employers.

Ben Arfa, who is a product of Olympique Lyonnais academy won Ligue, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophée des Champions with Marseille in 2010.

He then left France for England with a stint at Tyneside club, Newcastle United, playing below 100 games for the club before leaving.

He has since then played for three other clubs. He returned to France after his contract with Real Valladolid expired.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed