Rémi Himbert hits hat-trick on return as Lyon plot Champions League push | OneFootball

Rémi Himbert is back. The 18-year-old centre-forward, recovering from a right ankle sprain sustained in mid-March, struck a second-half hat-trick in a Wednesday morning friendly to stake his claim in Lyon’s attack. According to L'Équipe, Lyon have prioritised Champions League qualification and will enter the preliminary round on 4 or 5 August, with the return on 11 or 12.

At Décines, Lyon beat Mâcon 71 of N2 5-2, with Himbert scoring in the 70th, 74th and 81st minutes. He won and converted a penalty for his second.

Lyon are seeking an experienced centre-forward, independent of departures and able to run in behind. Head coach Paulo Fonseca said he expects a striker to arrive in the coming weeks, but stressed they are working with the squad they have and trust their youngsters, with Himbert currently leading the line.

Fonseca believes Himbert is at his best as a penalty-box finisher and notes clear recent progress. The improvement follows targeted summer work with assistant Adrien Tarrascon, who oversees individual programmes, sharpening the youngster’s movement and timing.

Himbert said he feels fully recovered after thorough rehabilitation and used the break to reset physically and mentally. He highlighted the collective performance in the win and his desire to keep improving and competing.

Focusing on the team, he is aiming to build rhythm, integrate new faces and grow cohesion. The objective is to arrive ready for the opening Champions League qualifier, without skipping steps.

Source: L'Équipe