Montpellier's Moroccan forward Younes Belhanda has been sidelined from the team's scheduled Ligue 1 opener against Toulouse due to injury.

The 22-year-old playmaker was injured in Montpellier's friendly game against Spanish side Espanyol on Friday.

"I'm out of Friday's game,'' Belhanda lamented on Twitter.

Belhanda was instrumental in helping Montpellier win their first-ever Ligue1 title last season. He was closely linked with a possible move to several European giants this summer, but ultimately chose to stay with his boyhood club.    

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