Thiago Silva joins Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Luiz on PSG sidelines

PARIS // Thiago Silva will not make his return from injury in Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 match against Lens on Friday, despite claims earlier on Thursday that the Brazilian was fit to return.

Silva, the PSG captain, played in the opening-day draw at Reims in August, but then suffered a hamstring injury in a friendly against Napoli three days later that has kept him out ever since.

Paris coach Laurent Blanc had said on Thursday that Silva was “fit but it remains to be seen if he will be in the squad, on the bench or in the starting line-up.”

However, he was later missing from the squad announced for the game by the club.

The champions have a lengthy injury list just now, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic still suffering from the heel problem that saw him miss the last four matches as well as two games for Sweden last weekend.

David Luiz picked up a thigh complaint while playing for Brazil against Argentina in a friendly in Beijing over the international break and he is missing along with Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marquinhos.

Speaking about Ibrahimovic’s heel problem, Blanc added: “It’s improving but not enough to be in the squad.

“I hope it won’t last long but as for a return date or day, I couldn’t say.”

The continued absence of Ibrahimovic means Edinson Cavani will again lead the attack for the defending champions, and Blanc is confident the misfiring striker will soon return to form after a poor start to the season.

“Edinson felt that he was not in the best form of his career and has buried himself in his work over the last 10 days and I have to say he has been exceptional in that regard,” said Blanc.

“He needed to recover certain sensations. I am waiting impatiently for him to confirm that in a game situation, but I am very pleased with the work he has done.”

Cavani has scored four times in 12 games in all competitions this season but looked horribly off colour in front of goal in the 3-2 Champions League win over Barcelona and the 1-1 draw with Monaco just before the recent international break.

Friday’s match against a Lens side in the relegation zone will be played at the Stade de France, the national stadium just outside Paris, but Blanc is unimpressed with the state of the pitch.

“The Stade de France pitch is a disaster, although it’s never been good,” he said.

Lens are unable to play at their own stadium this season as it undergoes refurbishment work ahead of Euro 2016, so all their home fixtures so far have been played 80 kilometres away in Amiens.

However, Friday’s match is the first of three they will host at the Stade de France.

Puel extends deal as Nice coach

Nice coach Claude Puel has signed a one-year extension to his contract, keeping him on the Cote d’Azur until 2016, the Ligue 1 club announced on Thursday.

The 53-year-old Puel, who arrived at Nice in July 2012 on an initial three-year deal, also has the option of extending by a further season.

Sources close to the club indicated that he will receive an increase on his monthly salary of 100,000 euros (£79,582, $127,916).

Nice finished fourth in Ligue 1 in Puel’s first season in charge but ended last season just one place above the relegation zone.

Puel spent his entire playing career with Nice’s local rivals Monaco and then coached the principality club to the title in 2000 before enjoying a successful six years at Lille and three seasons at Lyon, in which time he took them to the Champions League semi-finals in 2010.

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