FC Midtjylland will begin the season without defender Ousmane Diao, who is sidelined for several months following foot surgery. The injury occurred during training while Diao was on vacation in his home country of Senegal.

Examinations revealed a foot fracture that necessitated an operation, which was completed successfully. The 21-year-old Senegalese player is expected to return to action after the international break in September.

Diao’s absence means he has missed pre-season activities and will be unavailable for the initial months of the new season. He has played 42 games and scored seven goals for FC Midtjylland.

Last season, Diao became a regular player but was later replaced in the starting lineup by Han-beom Lee. In Diao’s absence, Han-beom Lee and captain Mads Bech are likely to form the central defense partnership for FC Midtjylland’s season opener against OB.