Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 8y

PSG defender Thiago Silva won't return from hip injury to face Metz

Paris Saint-Germain will again be without captain Thiago Silva this weekend for the visit of FC Metz in Ligue 1.

The Brazilian defender injured his hip with a rash challenge on now teammate Jese Rodriguez when the French giants beat Real Madrid 3-1 last month in the International Champions Cup clash in Columbus, Ohio.

Since then, Silva has only been able to do light running exercises and he is yet to return to full squad training.

PSG coach Unai Emery revealed that the South American central defender is closing on a return to action ahead of next week's trip to face Monaco.

However, the Spanish tactician conceded that his skipper will not be ready to face Metz in the Spaniard's Parc des Princes bow on Sunday.

"Thiago is progressing but he is still injured," Emery explained in his prematch news conference at Camp des Loges. "He will be ready to resume group training next week but he will not play on Sunday."

Silva is expected to feature in new Brazil coach Tite's squad on Monday for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia. If he is fit enough to be included, it will end more than a year of international exile.

The former AC Milan man is not the only player likely to be missing for PSG when Metz visit the capital this weekend.

Recent acquisition Jese was operated on for appendicitis after the 1-0 win away at SC Bastia last week and Emery confirmed that the ex-Real Madrid star is in a fragile state.

"[Jese's] situation is abnormal," said the 44-year-old Basque. "He was operated on for appendicitis and he will be absent for two or three weeks.

"He is resting this week and he will progressively recommence training. He will do some work starting on Monday and his progression will tell us when he will be ready to play again."

Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu will also be missing against Metz at Parc des Princes on Sunday because he is feeling sick. "[Sirigu] was ill at training today," Emery confirmed. "He is suffering from a virus. He left to go and rest."

Although Sirigu will miss Metz through illness, the Italy international was omitted for the trip to Bastia last week because he has slipped to third choice goalkeeper behind Kevin Trapp and Alphonse Areola.

PSG and the 29-year-old are looking for takers but so far none have materialised. Midfielder and fellow Azzurri teammate Thiago Motta admitted it is hard to understand Sirigu's marginalisation in the French capital.

"I know Salvatore well but it is a situation that we [his teammates] don't really understand," the 33-year-old confessed. "There may be a problem with the club or someone who works there.

"It is a sensitive issue and it is up to him to come out and explain it. We are sad because he is a good goalkeeper and a good friend."

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