Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is "6-8 weeks" away from a playing return.

That's according to Lorient coach Roger Le Bris, who states the fullback must rebuild his fitness after two years without football.

Mendy penned a two-year deal with Lorient after being acquitted of rape charges in an English court.

Le Bris has estimated he will join the squad in 6-8 weeks, the time to "rebuild the foundations". The program developed by the technical staff and the physical trainers has now reached its third week and the former Monaco player is keeping to the schedule.

At the moment he lives in a hotel together with some players from the academy and has not been cleared to talk publicly about legal issues, as well as his goals for season.