Newcastle United could face a weakened Marseille side on Tuesday as defender Nayef Aguerd has become a serious doubt for the Champions League meeting. The centre-back, who has quickly become an important part of Roberto De Zerbi’s setup, is now battling a groin injury that has arrived at the worst possible time for the French club.
Aguerd has been a consistent figure for Marseille since making the switch from West Ham in September. He settled quickly in Ligue 1 and started all but one of their league matches before the international break.
His most recent appearance was a solid 79-minute outing during their win over Stade Brestois, but that may be the last action he sees for a short while. When the Morocco squad gathered for the break, Aguerd was not among them. The injury he picked up meant he stayed behind for treatment, and reports in France now suggest things are not looking encouraging for the upcoming run of fixtures.
L’Equipe reported that the defender has already been ruled out of Marseille’s match against Nice on Friday and is considered highly unlikely to recover in time for the meeting with Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United.
This news will come as a blow to Marseille, particularly because Aguerd has been such a steadying presence in their back line. Newcastle fans may remember that he was previously linked with a move to St James’ Park before he eventually joined West Ham in 2024.
Marseille later confirmed the nature of the injury in an update on their website, revealing that Aguerd is suffering from pubalgia. This condition has affected several players across Europe this season, including Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, both of whom missed matches against Newcastle for the same reason.
The club stated that they have created a specific treatment programme aimed at reducing his discomfort while also supporting a slow and careful return to action. They also said they are in constant discussions with the Moroccan national team’s medical staff to monitor his progress.
During his time in England, Aguerd featured three times for West Ham against Newcastle, but he never managed to get the better of the Magpies. In February 2023, he played in the 1-1 draw at St James’ Park, a match that came just before Newcastle’s trip to Wembley for their Carabao Cup final.
Later that year, he played in the dramatic 2-2 draw in October when Mohammed Kudus earned West Ham a point with a late goal. But the most memorable and painful meeting for him came in April 2023. Newcastle ran riot in a 5-1 win, and Aguerd’s mistake early in the second half allowed Callum Wilson to score into an empty net. It was a moment he would have hoped to forget quickly.
With Aguerd now facing time on the sidelines, Marseille may have to turn to CJ Egan-Riley, who stepped in when Aguerd came off injured in their last match.
The former Burnley defender could now find himself handed a major opportunity as De Zerbi looks for stability ahead of an important week. Egan-Riley’s style is different from Aguerd’s, but his performance in the last outing showed he may be ready to take on more responsibility.
De Zerbi has preferred a back-five formation since arriving at Marseille, using a combination of Benjamin Pavard, Emerson and Aguerd as his main defensive unit. Without one of his most trusted players, the Italian coach may need to adjust either personnel or approach.
Marseille are currently second in Ligue 1, only two points behind Paris Saint-Germain after 12 matches. Their league form suggests they can cope, but their European campaign paints a different picture.
In the Champions League, Marseille have struggled significantly. They sit 25th in the league-phase standings, far from where they hoped to be at this stage. Losses to Real Madrid, Sporting CP and Atalanta have put them under pressure, and the defeat to Atalanta at home was particularly disappointing. Their only victory so far came against Ajax, a team that has been performing poorly and sits bottom of the competition.
Aguerd’s absence only adds to the uncertainty surrounding Marseille’s upcoming matches. For Newcastle, it may give them a slight advantage, but for De Zerbi, it creates another challenge in a season that has already been unpredictable.
With the defender’s recovery expected to take time, Marseille must find answers quickly if they want to keep their momentum at home and revive their chances in Europe.
