The OM striker will have a minor operation in the next few days and will be out of action through to the winter break.
It's a tough blow for Oylmpique de Marseille and André Villas-Boas. The Portuguese coach will be deprived of star forward Florian Thauvin "until the winter break", according to a statement issued by the club on Wednesday.
The victim of an accidental ankle injury early in the summer, Olympique de Marseille's World Cup-winning France international winger had returned to the squad before the international break, and even played a few minutes against Saint-Etienne, but his discomfort persisted.
"This type of lesion, small in size, very localised, usually allows for recovery following appropriate care and rest," read the statement on OM's website. "In order to be able to return to 100% of his capacity, Florian decided, in conjunction with Olympique de Marseille, to undergo out a small operation [arthroscopy] in the coming days."
