New Bordeaux coach Paulo Sousa is planning to deploy Samuel Kalu as a right wing-back when he returns to full fitness.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Friday's Ligue 1 match against Olympique de Marseille, Sousa confirmed that the Super Eagles star will not be available for selection, having failed to recover from a muscle injury.

Kalu is predominantly a right winger but is also comfortable playing as a left winger, right midfielder and second striker at club level.

Gernot Rohr had no choice but to use the Bordeaux number 10 as a right wing-back when the Super Eagles faced South Africa in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier back in November due to the absence of Abdullahi Shehu and Tyronne Ebuehi, and Sousa wants to borrow a page from the German.

''He can play in the right position in the 3-4-3 system, yes. He does that in selection, he does that, he can create and score goals, as he has done in Belgium already,'' Sousa told reporters.

''He can play two or three positions. However, he will not be present Friday, no.''

Kalu has featured in 30 games across all competitions for Bordeaux since transferring from Gent in the summer of 2018.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel