Melvin Bard out until 2025? Mohamed Abdelmonem and Hicham Boudaoui absent? – an update on OGC Nice’s injury crisis

OGC Nice’s injury update handout at Thursday’s press conference contained 11 names, even without the additions of Mohamed Abdelmonem and Hicham Boudaoui, both absent from training with illness.

There was one bit of good news for Le Gym. Jérémie Boga could return for Saturday’s match against Le Havre AC. Whilst listed on the medical update, the winger was noted as a returnee to first-team training. Whether he is fit enough to start is another question entirely.

Also on the list was captain Dante, who has undergone knee surgery. It is estimated that he will miss up to two months’  worth of action. Speaking at Thursday’s press conference, attended by Get French Football News, Franck Haise indicated that the surgery had gone well. “He won’t be back in 2024 but hopefully at the start of 2025,” said the Nice manager.

Youssouf Ndayishimiye, injured whilst away on international duty with Burundi before aggravating the injury during the defeat to Rangers, is out, as is Ali Abdi, Mohamed-Ali Cho, Victor Orakpo, Terem Moffi, Morgan Sanson, and Antoine Mendy. Jonathan Clauss will likely also miss the game against Le Havre, whilst L’Équipe understands that Melvin Bard will be out for between three to six weeks after colliding with an advertising board.

Nice – an enforced youth policy

Questioned about how he is responding mentally to the ongoing injury crisis, which has dogged the Riviera club since the start of pre-season, Haise responded: “I wouldn’t say that it is wearing but there is irritation.”

It is a situation that is enforcing a youth-centric approach with five academy products, without a single minute of professional football included in the matchday squad to face Rangers last week. Many of those, including Yaël Nandjou, who then went on to start against Olympique Lyonnais over the weekend, have now made their professional debuts.

Whilst Haise is, for now, obliged to integrate many academy players, he is conscious of ensuring that the club “don’t burn them out” either. To prevent that, Nice will be hoping for many of their first-teamers to recover over the short winter break.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Nice