Presnel Kimpembe's recovery behind schedule, timetable uncertain

PSG center-back Presnel Kimpembe is expected to get back to the ground at some point between now and the Champions League Round of 16 games. That's all we know, though, with Kimpembe hitting continuous roadblocks on his way to recovering from nagging injuries.

Kimpembe is more than probably going to be left out of the PSG squad until the end of January while he still nurtures his Achilles injury. After making the initial list for France to go to the World Cup, Kimpembe had to ultimately withdraw from the competition.

The Parisian defender is now suffering from a tendinopathy in the right Achilles tendon he most recently injured, with PSG facing Bayern in mid-February with a bit more than a month left to recover.

The center-back first returned from injury back on Oct. 25 when he played in the Champions League, precisely, against Maccabi Haifa. He re-injured his Achilles after that match.

According to RMC, Kimpembe is evolving positively and is on pace to return by the end of January, precisely on Jan. 28 when PSG will host Stade de Reims (Ligue 1, MD20), reports Fabrice Hawkins.

Presnel Kimpembe is expected back in collective training by the end of January and to be available to play by mid-February

Kimpembe appeared in a game with PSG for the last time on Nov. 13 when he played 16 minutes off the bench against Auxerre in a 5-0 PSG victory at the Parc des Princes.

The Parisian no. 3 remains in the background without a chance of appearing even for a few minutes in any competitive game for PSG as he's still unable to perform for a prolonged time at a reasonable level without further risking an injury.

Presnel Kimpembe missed ten games in September with a left hamstring injury before returning against Haifa on Oct. 25. He appeared in three games before injuring himself again, logging 11 minutes against Haifa, 59 against Troyes four days later, and finally 15 against Auxerre on Nov. 13.

According to the latest reports, Kimpembe is now suffering from a tendinopathy in the right Achilles tendon. The latest medical update from PSG, published before the game against Strasbourg after the World Cup, noted that the defender will remain out "for the next four weeks" and that he "will alternate healthcare and individualized training" as part of his recovery.

For Kimpembe and PSG, and according to L'Equipe, the objective for both parties is "to move forward step by step and especially not to rush a return that might make Kimpembe suffer any sort of setback".

If all goes well, Kimpembe is expected to resume collective training at the end of January with a focus on Feb. 14, the day of the first game of the Champions League Round of 16 matchup against Bayern.