With just ten days since their Ligue 2 playoff triumph over Rodez, AS Saint-Étienne stands on the brink of Ligue 1 promotion. The first leg of their playoff clash against Nice looms large, and ahead of the Tuesday night showdown at Geoffroy-Guichard, head coach Philippe Montanier held a press briefing.

Left-back Ben Old remains a major doubt for the match. The New Zealand international suffered a hamstring strain during the Rodez encounter and will undergo a final fitness assessment Tuesday morning before a definitive decision is made. Meanwhile, midfielder Florian Tardieu, sidelined since early March with a calf injury, has completed his recovery and is now available for selection.

Another setback comes from winger Djylian N’Guessan, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury of his own. The young attacker’s absence adds further strain to the squad’s offensive options.

The manager also addressed the status of players potentially involved in international duty for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. He confirmed ongoing discussions regarding the availability of Ben Old (New Zealand), Augustine Boakye and Ebenezer Annan (Ghana). Their participation remains uncertain for the first leg against Nice.

AS Saint-Étienne vs OGC Nice, Ligue 1 playoff first leg, live on radio from 8:45 PM