Ousmane Dembélé expected to return to PSG squad for Monaco as he seeks to kick-start season | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé is expected to return to the Paris Saint-Germain squad against Monaco at the Parc des Princes on Friday, five days before Chelsea visit in the Champions League last-16 first leg. According to L'Équipe, the comeback would start a demanding run for the 2025 Ballon d'Or through to the World Cup.

He lasted only 27 minutes in the 3-2 play-off first leg at Louis-II on 17 February, grimacing with pain in his left calf after pushing to play. The episode revived concerns over his resilience. He then missed Le Havre, Metz and the return leg against Monaco.

After more than three days off granted by Luis Enrique, he trained normally at 17:00 on Wednesday. On Tuesday, while team-mates rested, he worked individually and underwent tests at the Campus PSG. Caution remains, but the plan is to give him minutes and gauge him before Chelsea on Wednesday.

Had the stakes demanded it, the 2018 World Cup winner could have featured in the 1-0 game at Le Havre. He and the club instead chose to wait to reduce any risk of relapse. Luis Enrique played down the issue after the 3-0 win over Metz on 21 February, though it proved a little more than a knock, and Dembélé had previously struggled with a patient approach after hamstring and calf problems in the autumn.

His return would usher in a decisive spell. He has seven goals and three assists in 2026, and from last season’s last 16 he produced two goals and five assists. In private he maintains he is still hungry and unhappy with a perceived dip from some team-mates compared with last season.

Wednesday’s session also involved Senny Mayulu, calf, and Joao Neves, ankle. If the medical and coaching staff agree, they too could rejoin the Ligue 1 group.

Source: L'Équipe