Amine Gouiri return gives Roberto De Zerbi fresh options for Marseille’s second half of the season | OneFootball

After three months out with a shoulder injury, Amine Gouiri returned to action, a timely boost for Roberto De Zerbi. L'Équipe notes that his comeback offers Marseille more options for the second half of the season.

Thursday at Kuwait City’s Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium he played just over an hour. It finished 2-2, then PSG won 4-1 on penalties.

Even after going off, he stayed lively near the technical area, with De Zerbi at times urging restraint. Gouiri felt ruthlessness was missing and that the last goal changed everything. He said Marseille had shown they could compete with the European champions and should build on it.

He injured his right shoulder on 14 October against Uganda, 2-1, and had surgery, then withdrew from the Africa Cup of Nations. De Zerbi spoke of about three months out, and Gouiri targeted the Trophée des Champions. He worked at Aspetar in November, was cleared late December, came on at Nantes, 0-2, and Thursday was his first start since 26 September at Strasbourg, 2-1.

Competition has intensified with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back for a second spell, so Gouiri has mostly been back-up. De Zerbi may need more depth up front in the coming weeks, with Champions League dates against Liverpool on 21 January or Bruges on 28 and Lens at home on 24.

Source: L'Équipe