Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani is back in training after a recent thigh injury and could play a part in Sunday's Ligue 1 clash with FC Metz at Parc des Princes.
Cavani, 29, missed out on Unai Emery's first two competitive matches as PSG coach but posted a video on his Instagram account on Wednesday showing himself scoring with a neat chip in a training match.
With the Uruguay international operational once again, the debate over his importance has been reignited in Le Parisien. Former France international and current SFR Sport pundit Christophe Dugarry is optimistic that the striker can step up now that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has left the club.
"[Cavani] has doubted himself, he has lacked confidence but I have always believed in him," said Dugarry. "I hope this will now become a thing of the past and that things will go back to how they were [at Napoli].
"He has two qualities rare and important for an attacker; he scores a lot of goals and he knows how to create and find spaces to then call for the ball at the right time. He is quite unique. On top of that, he plays with high intensity. With a more direct game, which Emery encourages, he will be more satisfied."
However, former PSG player and coach turned RMC Radio pundit Jean-Michel Larque disagreed.
"Obviously we will compare [Cavani] with Ibrahimovic and the answer will be in whether he can be as strong," he said. "Judging him based on what he has produced up until now, I have not seen enough to forget the Swede's moves and efficiency.
"[Cavani] has already occupied the central striking role on a number of occasions and never really convinced. He is brave, generous and a fighter, but he is far from being on the same level as a [Luis] Suarez. I have many questions, even doubts, about this new PSG. In my opinion, Cavani is not among the top bracket of attackers in the world."
Cavani has scored 53 goals in 97 Ligue 1 games but in none of his three seasons at PSG has he broken 20-league goal barrier, although his strike rate is better than one goal every two games in Le Championnat.
But Omar Da Fonseca, a former PSG striker who now works as a consultant for beIN Sports France, insisted that he would not dominate games.
"[Cavani] likes Emery's approach to selection and training," said Da Fonseca. "There are aspects of Italian methodology there, such as the repetition of movements. This will be a positive for him."
"Will he score 40 goals per season like Ibrahimovic, though? I am asking that question. This is the first time that he will play without another attacker next to him, like Suarez for Uruguay or Ibra in Paris. [Ibrahimovic] made it easier by attracting defenders and allowing PSG to get in around the back."
"[Cavani] will score because Paris will dominate games. Will he prove decisive in matches though? I am not sure."