Paris, Feb 25 (IANS): Ligue 1 club Marseille will miss their Cameroon defender Nicolas N'Koulou for up to six weeks after a knee surgery.

The 24-year-old, who sustained the injury during the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Equatorial Guinea, is not expected to be back in action until Marseille visit defending champions Paris Saint-Germain April 5, reports Xinhua.

"On Monday morning, Nicolas N'Koulou was operated by Dr. Jean-Pierre Franceschi due to patellar cartilage damage in his left knee, contracted during the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea," announced the top-flight club Tuesday.

"The surgeon removed two fragments of cartilage and practiced articular lavage. No action has been practiced on cartilage itself," read the statement.

This season, N'Koulou has made 17 Ligue 1 appearances for Marcelo Bielsa's side.

Targeting a potential return to the top of the Ligue 1 table, Marseille are now sitting on third, two points behind Les Parisiens and four adrift of leaders Lyon.