Ligue 1 Previews: Kone missing for Marseille

Bakari Kone (pictured) is a doubtul starter for fifth-placed Olympique Marseille when they visit lowly Auxerre on Saturday.

The Ivory Coast striker damaged knee ligaments in training on Thursday and is likely to join Senegal forward Mamadou Niang and captain Lorik Cana on the club's long injury list.

Marseille said they had broken talks with 37-year-old Swedish striker Henrik Larsson, currently with Swedish side Helsingborg, after hoping to sign him during the winter transfer window.

"We are now looking at other options," Marseille said in a statement.

Champions Olympique Lyon, entertaining mid-table Lorient in their first match of the year on Saturday, will welcome back 18-year-old midfielder Miralem Pjanic. The gifted teenager had been sidelined for three months with a fractured fibula.

All matches this weekend should go ahead despite freezing temperatures in France apart from Saturday's Valenciennes-Caen game, which has been postponed because of a frozen pitch, the French League (LFP) said in a statement.

Monaco, welcoming strugglers Nantes on Saturday, face six weeks without Croatia midfielder Jerko Leko, who fractured a cheekbone in a friendly with Juventus this week.

Monaco coach Ricardo, whose team lie 14th in the 20-strong table, has criticised the club's transfer policy.

"We need good reinforcements but I'm not sure we can get them," he told a news conference. "Bringing new players just for the sake of it is something we have done already. We need players who would really reinforce the side."

Eighth-placed Nice, visiting Nancy on Saturday, have a new Brazilian striker in Adeilson. The 23-year-old, who joined from Brazilian side Ipatinga, has signed a three-year contract.