Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac will be out of action for around six weeks as he was to undergo groin surgery Friday, the club said.
Gignac, who had an operation on a different groin problem last May, had only recently returned to the first team having been dropped to the reserves over a row last month with coach Didier Deschamps, who forced him to issue an apology.
The 25-year-old, capped 16 times by France, was dropped for the win a fortnight ago over bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain after he complained bitterly to Deschamps over his lack of playing time this season.
The former Toulouse player, who came close to leaving Stade Velodrome in the summer, has barely featured so far this camapign.
But he had moved back up the pecking order in recent days with first-choice striker Loic Remy struggling with an ankle injury and was on the bench for last week's win at Caen.
With the transfer window fast approaching Marseille, currently seventh in the table but improving after a poor start, will have to look to reinforcements as Andre Ayew and possibly his brother Jordan will be on African Cup of Nations duty.
Source: AFP
