Lemoine on the mend after kidney injury

PARIS (AFP) – Rennes midfielder Fabien Lemoine is facing six months on the sidelines following a heavy blow to the side at the weekend that split one of his kidneys.

The injury, sustained in a collision with an opposing player during the Breton side’s 3-0 win at Nancy on Saturday, saw Lemoine’s kidney split into three parts and there were intial fears for his long-term health.

“This kind of injury in football is very rare and is more common in car crashes,” said Rennes club doctor Karl Chaory.

He added that there were two possibilities for the treatment of the injury.

“The first is that we can hope that the kidney heals by itself, but that would take time — at least six months, almost certainly longer,” he said.

“The second would involve an operation to remove the kidney. That would take less time, but of course we would give priority to the player’s overall health rather than to sporting considerations.”

A final decision on how to proceed will be taken in the next 10 days, with Lemoine expected to be relased from hospital in Nancy at the end of this week.