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Serge Aurier left out of PSG squad to face Basel in Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain right-back Serge Aurier will be the French giants' only major absence when they face FC Basel in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday after coach Unai Emery left him out of his squad.

Playmaker Javier Pastore and talented young central defender Presnel Kimpembe have been included after both missed the 1-0 win away at Lille OSC in Ligue 1 on Friday.

However, there was no room in Emery's group for Nanitamo Jonathan Ikone, Christopher Nkunku, Lorenzo Callegari or Hervin Ongenda for the trip to Switzerland.

Aurier missed the win at Stade Pierre-Mauroy with an ankle injury but speaking with L'Equipe, PSG doctor Eric Rolland revealed the Ivory Coast international was passed fit to face Lille but that Emery opted to do without him.

If the 23-year-old was fit enough to participate against Les Dogues, then he should also be apt to feature against Basel. The French capital outfit has not given a reason for his absence from the party.

It could be that Emery is taking the opportunity to keep Aurier out of the squad for a few games so that the African defender can reflect on his patchy form so far this season and get his head clear after a number of controversies away from the pitch.

As told to ESPN FC by a source close to Pastore, it had been expected that the Argentina international would be able to at least travel to St. Jakob-Park as he had recently returned to training with his teammates.

Although El Flaco will make the trip, it is not guaranteed that Emery will hand him a return to action just yet.

Kimpembe was suspended for the Lille encounter, so the France Under-21 international simply returns to the squad.

Fellow youth academy graduates Ikone, Nkunku, Callegari and Ongenda were not so lucky, though, despite the Champions League squad being bigger (21 players) than a typical domestic one (18 players).