Nice midfielder Wylan Cyprien will miss the rest of the football season due to a ruptured knee ligament following a medical test on Saturday.
"OGC Nice are sure that he will face up to this test with strength and a motivation to come back stronger than before," the club said in a statement on their official website.
With a 2-2 draw against Caen at home on Friday, Nice went one point ahead of the defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on the second position, two points adrift leaders Monaco, reports Xinhua news agency.
However, Cyprien landed badly when challenging a header in the 56th minute. Images showed that his knee suffered a twist at that moment.
A test on Saturday morning confirmed that the 22-year-old midfielder suffered a ruptured anterior crucial ligament, and were unavailable for the remainder of the season.
Cyprien made 29 appearances in the league this season, including 27 starts, finishing 8 goals and 3 assists for the southern coast side.
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Nice already lost their top scorer Alassane Plea, who had 11 goals so far, due to a knee injury. Cyprien's absence would cast more uncertainty on the team's title race ahead.
--IANS
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