PROFILE | Injuries hampers Arnaud Nordin’s progress after career-best season | OneFootball

After moving from AS Saint-Étienne to Montpellier HSC, Arnaud Nordin enjoyed a career-best season last year as he scored nine goals for La Paillade in a comfortable midtable finish for his new side.

The winger has always been an explosive and technical player but a leap up in terms of goal production transformed Nordin from a player with high potential into one of Montpellier’s more exciting and consistent attacking options.

This summer it looked as if the diminutive winger would be on the move again as his performances had attracted interest from across Europe. Teams like OGC Nice, Burnley, and Fiorentina all entered advanced negotiations to sign Nordin, but to Montpellier’s delight, the winger remained a player for the one-time champions.

The hope for Nordin at the start of the season was that he would continue the steady progression he had started with La Paillade and build on the promise shown throughout the year. However, the winger’s development has taken a serious blow as a series of setbacks have kept the player out of the team.

Injuries halt Nordin’s progress

A thigh injury sustained in a preseason match against Toulouse FC has become a recurrent problem for Nordin. The winger did manage to recover in time for the start of the season, and there were encouraging signs within those start-of-season performances, as he scored twice and assisted once in Montpellier’s first five fixtures.

However, this has been about the limit to his involvement so far, as the player has made only two further appearances for La Paillade, the last of which came in late November, as a flare-up of his thigh injury and his struggle with remaining fit has left the player out of the team and frustrated.

Montpellier have also clearly missed Nordin being out on the pitch. The team are by no means safe from relegation despite their current midtable position, as they sit only four points away from the relegation playoff spot. A full return of a key component of what kept the team away from the drop last season would certainly be considered a blessing for La Paillaide.

GFFN | Nick Hartland