Lorient vs St Etienne preview

St Etienne forward Kevin Monnet-Paquet is in no mood to show former side Lorient any mercy when he returns to the Stade du Moustoir on Saturday.

Monnet-Paquet will make his first return to the club he left in the summer determined to fire his current side up the table after three games without a win in Ligue 1.

That run has left the visitors in 10th place in the table, although just a point off the European places, with Lorient four places and four points worse off.

"The international break has done us good. We were able to rest a bit," Monnet-Paquet told the Lorient website.

"Against Lorient we will have no choice. If we want to remain competitive we have to win.

"The aim is to pick things up again to catch up with the top of the rankings."

It will neverthless be an emotional afternoon for the 26-year-old and one he insists he will enjoy.

"I will put feelings aside during the game, but I return to the Moustoir with great pleasure," added Monnet-Paquet, who played more than 100 league games for Lorient.

"I still have many friends at Lorient and will return on Saturday night with warmth in my heart. I spent four wonderful years there and look forward to seeing the Moustoir and the crowd."

Lorient ended a four-game losing run in the league with a 2-0 win at Bastia last time out, their first goals since August. Their opponents have lost their last two games.