Fulham midfielder Mahamadou Diarra will not play for Mali in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, the Club has confirmed.

The former Real Madrid man has been struggling with a knee injury of late and hasn’t featured for Fulham since the 3-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the start of December.

And, after considering the advice of the Fulham medical team, Mali has reviewed the player and Diarra will return to the Club to continue his rehabilitation with the Whites rather than participate in the tournament in South Africa.