Roux hopeful of January return

AJ Auxerre coach Guy Roux could be back on the bench early in the new year following his recent health scare.

Bypass operation
The 63-year-old underwent a heart bypass operation on 23 November and handed the reins to his assistant Alain Fiard during his recuperation.

Charismatic figure
Roux, a charismatic figure at the club for the past 40 years, left the Clinique d'Evecquemont near Paris on Saturday and is flying to Corsica at the end of the week to rest.

Medical advice
He told L'Equipe: "I will be present for the team's first training after Christmas, on 29 December at the Abbé-Deschamps [stadium]. I don't know if I will start properly then, however, it will depend on the doctors' advice."

Houllier's problems
Roux is the second French coach to have had heart problems in recent months. Former France national team coach Gérard Houllier, now with FA Premiership leaders Liverpool FC, had open-heart surgery in October.