Djibril Cisse's recovery from injury has been delayed for up to two months.
The striker, on loan at Marseille for the season from Liverpool, was originally expected to have overcome his broken leg in time to make his debut this month.
He had suffered the horrific fracture during a World Cup warm-up match with China in June, but now he faces a further six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
Marseille coach Albert Emon confirmed Cisse will resume light training 'in a little under three weeks' and added: 'He could return in a month and a half to two months. He is training [the leg] slowly, in a good fashion.
'When he starts training with us, we can set his comeback date more clearly.'
The coach suggested the former Auxerre striker will be the club's main frontman when he does make his Ligue 1 return.
'His best position is leading the line and that's where he'll play,' Emon told Eurosport.
'He can play with [Franck] Ribery behind him, or alongside Mickael Pagis or Mamadou Niang. There are many possibilities.'
