French international attacker Jonathan Ikoné could play a major role in LOSC's Ligue 1 Uber Eats title bid.
Relegated in the pecking order at both club and international level this season, the former PSG player enjoyed his start at Lorient on Sunday, operating as a support striker and scoring Lille's first direct free kick in Ligue 1 Uber Eats for over two-and-a-half years.
Galtier: "I'm happy for him"
Ikoné has scored seven goals in all competitions this season, as many as he managed in his two first seasons in northern France combined, and Lille coach Christophe Galtier said: "I'm happy for him because I know he's unhappy, sometimes disappointed. He offered a good response to his coach. Sometimes he starts games, sometimes he comes on, sometimes he plays on the right. It's an apprenticeship and we work a lot on the mental side of the game with 'Jorko'"
Dropped down to France's Under-21 squad, Ikoné could feature in the European Championships and the Olympics this year and will be determined to force Galtier's hand to give him more match minutes, potentially commencing with Thursday's game in Amsterdam as LOSC attempt to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 32 tie with Ajax.
