'He is at 30 or 40 per cent' - Nantes boss Raymond Domenech issues update on former Leeds United forward Jean-Kevin Augustin

Domenech took over at the Ligue 1 club late last month and has given Augustin his backing, insisting the forward has a part to play for Nantes.

Augustin moved to Nantes in October, despite an ongoing dispute between Leeds and RB Leipzig, who loaned him to the Whites in January 2020 with an £18m obligation to buy as part of the deal. When the season was suspended due to Covid-19, Augustin was allowed to depart Elland Road having failed to get himself up to required physical standard to be considered for Marcelo Bielsa's side and Leeds evidently believe he still belonged to RB Leipzig. But reports that the saga had been taken before FIFA by the German club, seeking financial compensation, emerged in December.

Augustin has played just 33 minutes this season for Nantes and has not featured in a matchday squad since November. Christian Gourcuff revealed last month that Augustin had been left out of team training in order to allow him to reach an 'acceptable level of fitness.'

Gourcuff has since departed Stade de la Beaujoire, to be replaced by former French national team boss Domenech, who admits he still cannot count on the 23-year-old striker.

"Augustin is not ready yet but I am behind him and he is trying and hanging on," said Domenech in a report from RMC Sport.He was well aware of Augustin's physical attributes before arriving at Nantes but says the player he has encountered since is not physically able to replicate his best effort.

Augustin, though, is showing signs of fight. The player's own social media feed posted images of the player in training with his team-mates earlier today.

"I knew a player who had power, who accelerated and who went fast," said Domenech.

"I found a player who does not have the ability to repeat the efforts. But it has already been better for four or five days. He is at 30 or 40 per cent of what he can do. There is still work to be done and it will not happen overnight, but he showed desire. We will help him return to his best level. I hope to have him at my disposal as soon as possible.

"He is a player whose game is based on speed and acceleration, it can come back faster. His explosiveness must serve us at one time or another."

Augustin's Elland Road woes began with a calf injury, sustained not long after he arrived amid much fanfare, and he was never able to fully recover his fitness, leaving Leeds having played just 48 minutes in the Championship.