Rennes' Yoann Gourcuff out until 2016

Don't expect Stade Rennes midfielder Yoann Gourcuff to suit up for his new club any time soon: The French midfielder will be sidelined until after the new year, according to club president Rene Ruello.

The 29-year-old Frenchman signed for Rennes in the summer after his contract expired in Lyon. He returned to a special home in Roazhon Park, as Rennes was the first club Gourcuff played for professionally back in 2003.

Gourcuff, once a French international, is recovering from stress fractures in his foot, though, and Ruello says Gourcuff likely won't play again until 2016.

"I want him to once again become the great player he used to be," Ruello told L'Equipe, as quoted by ESPN. "Football is in his DNA. So it's unfortunate that he's not able to play at the moment. He needs treatment as such a fracture needs time to heal. The doctor said it might take eight months for him to recover."

Fans of the team, who have fond memories of the midfielder during his three seasons at the club, welcomed Gourcuff's signing. But Ruello says the injury wasn't part of the plan when bringing Gourcuff back.

"His current injury was not detected before he left Lyon and that has led to further problems," Ruello said. "He must get out of this bad spiral. It's difficult to set him a deadline but I do not think he will play before the end of the year."

Gourcuff joined Lyon for €22 million in 2010 and spent much of his tenure at the Stade de Gerland dealing with injuries, too.