Abu Francis
TOU
Returns to action in friendly
Francis (hamstring) returned from injury and made his first appearance of the season in Saturday's 3-2 friendly loss to Pau, according to Les Violets.
Analysis: Francis logged his first minutes of the campaign after missing the opening weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, starting in a holding midfield role against Pau. The appearance represents an important step toward full match fitness and puts him back in contention for competitive action. Francis will now have another week of training to build his fitness before Toulouse travel to Monaco next Saturday.
Dealing with hamstring injury
Francis is out for the time being due to a hamstring injury, according to LesViolets.com.
Analysis: Francis has yet to play this season due to the injury, and there's no concrete timetable for his return to action. With the midfielder sidelined, names such as Niklas Schmidt and Thomas Jorgensen could be in line for more playing time.
Makes squad for Lyon clash
Francis (leg) has been included in the squad for Sunday's clash against Lyon, six months after suffering a double tibia-fibula fracture with Ghana against Japan in November, according to Les Violets.
Analysis: Francis had been progressing well through team training sessions in recent weeks and the club has chosen to integrate him into the professional squad for the final fixture of the season rather than sending him to the reserve side. The Ghanaian international could even see some minutes off the bench in the second half depending on the flow of the match, making his return one of the most heartwarming stories of Toulouse's campaign. Francis had managed just eight appearances before the devastating fracture struck, and with significant midfield turnover expected this summer, he can almost be considered a new signing for the 2026/27 season given how little football he has played since joining from Cercle Bruges.
Back in team training
Francis (leg) returned to regular team training sessions, marking a significant milestone in his recovery from the double tibia-fibula fracture he suffered with Ghana against Japan in November, according to Les Violets.
Analysis: Francis had been working through individual running and ball work before progressing to full collective sessions with his teammates, an impressive turnaround just over five months after suffering such a serious injury. Whether he can feature in competitive action before the season ends remains uncertain given the tight three-week calendar remaining for Toulouse, but a cameo appearance or a run-out with the reserve side in National 3 cannot be entirely ruled out. The club will be cautious above all else to avoid any risk of a setback, with the 24-year-old Ghanaian international expected to slot back into a regular role for TeFeCe when the 2026/27 campaign begins.
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