Lille OSC may start the Derby du Nord against RC Lens without a recognised centre-forward. Olivier Giroud may be left on the bench, whilst Ayase Ueda is currently injured.

Giroud has rarely started for Lille this season, and even despite Ueda’s absence on Friday night, he may not be included in Davide Ancelotti’s XI. Instead, it may be Hakon Arnar Haraldsson who starts, potentially as a false No.9.

There is also the absence of Tanguy Nianzou to contend with, whilst the likes of Tiago Santos and Hamza Igamane are more long-term absentees. Both are recovering from ACL injuries.

Dilane Bakwa, currently on loan from Nottingham Forest, may also have to settle for a place on the bench. Ethan Mbappé is expected to continue on the right, whilst academy product Soriba Diaoune may be rewarded for his recent form with a place on the left of the attack.

Lille likely line-up v Lens

Berke Ozer; Romain Perraud, Alexsandro, Nathan Ngoy, Maxima Goffi; Benjamin André, Nabil Bentaleb, Ngal’ayel Mukau; Soriba Diaoune, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, Ethan Mbappé. (L’Éq)