Fabien Lemoine is hoping to be ready for a return to first-team duty at Rennes in the New Year.
Midfielder back in action after kidney operation
Fabien Lemoine is hoping to be ready for a return to first-team duty at Rennes in the New Year.
The midfielder has missed four months of action after taking a heavy blow during an outing against Nancy.
That collision left him with a serious kidney problem, with the organ eventually having to be removed.
The 23-year-old has faced a gruelling rehabilitation regime in an effort to regain full fitness, but feels he is finally closing in on that level.
He came through an outing for Rennes' reserves on Sunday unscathed, having chosen to figure in that match rather than travel with the first team to Bordeaux.
Lemoine believes he benefited greatly from the second string run-out and is confident he will be ready for a senior recall by the time Ligue 1 action resumes after the winter break.
Contact
"I am really happy to have returned to competition," he told
L'Equipe.
"It went smoothly and I was able to withstand contact. I was a little scared going into the game, but I tried not to think about my accident too much.
"It was definitely better to return with the reserves as I was able to play. If I had gone to Bordeaux, I could have been left sat in the stands or on the bench without playing.
"Now I have to find my best level again. At first it was about playing for fun and enjoying it again. Now I must demand more from myself.
"My objective is to be back to my best by the time games start again in January."
