Paris Saint-Germain will be without right back Serge Aurier, playmaker Javier Pastore and central defender Presnel Kimpembe for the clash away at Lille OSC on Friday after coach Unai Emery left the trio out of his 18-man squad.
The Ivory Coast defender has picked up an ankle injury and will be unavailable for the Ligue 1 clash at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. However, Aurier could be back to face either FC Basel in the UEFA Champions League or Stade Rennais in Le Championnat next week.
Pastore returned to training with his teammates on Wednesday after a lengthy injury layoff because of a recurring calf problem. The Argentina international was not deemed ready for a return to action just yet but is expected to return next week -- most likely against Rennes.
Kimpembe has been ruled out of the Lille match through suspension but even if he had been available, it is not certain Emery would have selected him after Le Parisien reported this week that the France Under-21 international is being punished for some unprofessional behaviour at present.
Emery also admitted in his pre-Lille press conference that he could take Les Parisiens' under-fire No. 11, Angel Di Maria, out of the starting XI as well.
"Confidence cannot be bought at the supermarket," the Spanish tactician told journalists. "It is something that needs daily work, with the staff and teammates.
"The players with less confidence need a bit of help. One of those players in need of a boost, in my opinion, is Di Maria. The team will help him.
"I am working to help the team and the players. Confidence has two paths: to continue to play or to be on the bench to calm down out of the spotlight. We are discussing the Lille match now and tomorrow I will decide."
Otherwise, Jean-Kevin Augustin has returned to the squad after failing to make the cut against Olympique de Marseille for Le Classique last weekend.
Fellow youth academy graduates, Jonathan Ikone, Christopher Nkunku, Alec Georgen, Lorenzo Callegari and Remy Descamps were also overlooked by Emery for the Lille trip.