Lemoine to resume training in mid-October

Rennes defensive midfielder Fabien Lemoine, who had his right kidney removed following a serious injury against Nancy last month, will return to his club’s training centre in mid-October.

Lemoine will not be able to resume full training immediately and explained on the Rennes website that he will take up “small sporting activity” when he returns, with a view to eventually building up full fitness.

“I lead the life of a normal man,” said the 23-year-old in an article on the club website published on Wednesday.

“I’m still going to rest for one or two weeks. Around mid-October, I’ll start softly with a bit of indoor cycling. We’ll let things go and see how my body reacts. We’ll take stock as and when.

“I don’t know how my body will progress. I’d prefer not to set objectives in terms of timescale. I’ll take it slowly. There’s a huge difference between re-learning how to have a normal life and training on the pitch.”

Lemoine, a product of Rennes’s youth academy, hurt himself in an aerial challenge with Nancy defender Reynald Lemaitre during a game on the second weekend of the French season.