Good news for Eirik Horneland: Dylan Batubinsika returns to collective training

The Congolese defender of AS Saint-Étienne, Dylan Batubinsika, resumed collective training this week. Absent during the match in Strasbourg due to a pain in the calf, he could be back in the group to face AS Monaco this Saturday (21:05).

Arrived in 2023, Batubinsika established itself as an important element of the Stéphanois defence. Strong and experienced, he often stabilized the backguard of the Greens last season. However, his experience in Ligue 1 was more delicate. Replaced by Anthony Briançon during the match in Strasbourg, Batubinsika could offer an additional quality option for coach Eirik Horneland.

If Batubinsika is fit and likely to return to the group, there is no indication that he will be titularized from entry. Maxime Bernauer and Mickaël Nadé have linked the last meetings with a certain regularity, and Horneland has often favoured stability in his defensive choices.

Three days from the end of the championship, each decision is valuable to the AS Saint-Étienne, which seeks to ensure its continuation. Faced with a Monegasque attack made up of proven talents, the Greens will need all their experience and defensive aggression. The presence of Batubinsika, whether on the bench or in the eleven, could be decisive for the end of this high-voltage season.