Mathieu Epolo and his much anticipated return to action has been disrupted once again after the DR Congo international goalkeeper picked up a fresh injury, dealing a further blow to both his club Standard Liège and his personal development.
The Belgian club confirmed in an official statement that the young goalkeeper is currently unavailable due to a hand injury, ruling him out of upcoming fixtures.
The setback comes at a difficult moment, as Epolo had only just been working his way back into competitive action.
According to the available information, the injury appears to have occurred shortly after his return to club duties following a recent trip to Kinshasa over the weekend.
It is reported that he began experiencing pain in his hand after rejoining Standard Liège, although the exact circumstances surrounding the issue have not yet been fully clarified.
The timing of the setback is particularly frustrating for both the player and the club, as Epolo had been hoping to rebuild momentum after a spell on the sidelines.
Instead, this latest injury interrupts his progress and raises further concerns about his physical consistency at the start of the season.
Standard Liège have already confirmed that the goalkeeper will miss their next Jupiler Pro League fixture against Westerlo.
His absence leaves the coaching staff with limited options and forces adjustments to their match preparations as they look to maintain stability in goal.
Many had been eager to see the young Congolese international regain rhythm and establish himself more firmly within the team after earlier interruptions to his season.
Epolo’s situation is now becoming a growing concern, with repeated fitness issues preventing him from building continuity in his performances.
His development has been marked by promising moments, but also by recurring physical setbacks that have slowed his progress.
At this stage, no official timeline has been provided for his return, leaving both the club and fans waiting for further updates.
Standard Liège will be hoping the injury does not prove serious and that their goalkeeper can return to action soon.
The club’s immediate focus will now shift to preparing for the upcoming league fixture without him, as they attempt to manage the impact of his absence on their defensive setup.
As things stand, both club and player will be hoping this interruption proves to be temporary, rather than another prolonged spell on the sidelines.
