Lucas Paquetá in Lyon squad after playing for Brazil yesterday morning | OneFootball

Lyon have named midfielder Lucas Paquetá in tonight’s matchday squad to face Monaco, despite the Brazilian playing as a starter at 2.30am yesterday for his country.

L’Équipe report that, only a few hours after the end of the game against Uruguay, the former Milan man was already on a plane to return to France, determined to play a part in tonight’s clash.

The 24-year-old had explained to those around him that his intention was to play a part in the Monaco match, as evidenced by his arrival in Lyon the next morning, where he was able to ask manager Peter Bosz to be included in the squad, just before the announcement was due.

The Dutch manager was initially reluctant to risk the Brazilian’s fitness, but was eventually won over by his insistence, adding a 22nd name to the squad. Paquetá then returned home in the evening, had a massage session and went to bed early in order to recover.

Lyon will be without Moussa Dembélé and Islam Slimani for tonight’s fixture, meaning young attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki is expected to start the match up front.