There were beginnings at the end of last week, before the reception of Auxerre (3-1) for the Ligue 1 championship. A virus close to that of the flu thus struck in the ranks of the Racing Club of Strasbourg, future opponent of ES Thaon in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, this Wednesday January 15 (6:30 p.m., in Epinal).
Coach Liam Rosenior, his assistant Kalifa Cissé and a few players had passed their turn for the last two training sessions before the arrival of the Icaunais. Before all are finally operational.
However, the virus has not left the capital of Europe, since several players remained warm this Tuesday, when training resumed. Only fourteen outfield players and four goalkeepers were present on the field at the time. A massacre which forced the staff to cancel this Wednesday’s session to replace it this Thursday, the usual day of treatment. What will happen for Strasbourg’s next Ligue 1 match, in Toulouse on Sunday, then next Wednesday, against the Thaonnais?
Delaine relapses. Unavailable since the summer preparation (cracked patella), defender Thomas Delaine, who was about to return to the game, is forfeited for the trip to Epinal. The former Messin just got injured again last week and will be on the sidelines for several more weeks.
-Mara in uncertainty. Will Sékou Mara also be absent from the debates against the Thaonnais? Victim of a sprained right ankle against Auxerre, the striker underwent examinations on Tuesday but the pain was still severe in the middle of the week.
Lukovic prêté. Arriving on the banks of the Rhine and the Ill in the summer of 2023, the young (19 year old) Serbian striker Milos Lukovic was loaned until the end of the season to the Dutch club Heerenveen. He has only played 11 minutes (2 matches) in Ligue 1 since the start of the season.
