Paris Saint-Germain will likely be forced to field a youthful and unfamiliar forward three for Saturday's Ligue 1 encounter with newly-promoted Clermont.

Any hopes of Lionel Messi making his full debut for the club are unlikely to be fulfilled, as the Argentine - alongside Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes - will be late returns from South America following the international break.

With Kylian Mbappe also picking up an injury while on international duty with France, B team striker Alexandre Fressange may be called upon to bolster the attack, but Mauro Icardi should shake off a shoulder problem in time to start.

Julian Draxler is expected to fill in on the left flank due to Neymar's late return, while Eric Ebimbe could take his spot on the right as Messi and Di Maria get reaccustomed to French surroundings, with Ismael Gharbi struggling with an adductor issue.

Marco Verratti withdrew from Italy's squad early due to a knee problem and is uncertain for this game as well, so Ander Herrera may earn a start in midfield alongside Georginio Wijnaldum and Idrissa Gueye.

Left-backs Layvin Kurzawa and Juan Bernat are not ready to return from injury just yet, but Abdou Diallo should be fine to feature, and Pochettino has ruled out the prospect of Nuno Mendes making his full debut.

Marquinhos and Thilo Kehrer are expected to be fine to form a familiar centre-back pairing as Sergio Ramos remains out, while Gianluigi Donnarumma could finally be handed the gloves in place of Keylor Navas.

PSG possible starting lineup: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kehrer, Diallo; Gueye, Wijnaldum, Herrera; Ebimbe, Icardi, Draxler

Written by
Ben Knapton