AS Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim has the luxury of naming playmaker Joao Moutinho in his first XI for tonight's French Riviera derby at Nice.

The Portuguese ace had been suffering the effects of an ankle injury following the 1-0 defeat to Guingamp 12 days ago - Monaco's last Ligue 1 outing after Saturday's clash with Montpellier was postponed.

However, Moutinho returns to the fold tonight and will play behind strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Matheus Carvalho - a January loan signing from Brazil side Atletico Barra da Tijuca.

Victory over Nice would see Jardim's side move within eight points of leaders Lyon at the top of Ligue 1.

Nice XI: Hassen; Paulun, Genevois, Diawara, Amavi; Hult, Mendy; Eysseric, Eduardo, Vercauteren; Plea

Monaco XI: Subasic; Fabinho, Kurzawa, Abdennour, Wallace; Moutinho, Carrasco, Kondogbia, Toulalan; Berbatov, Matheus