Sandrine Gruda will be absent from France training until further notice as she continues to be troubled by a recurring knee injury.

The 2006 FIBA Europe Young Women's Player of the Year joined her fellow Les Bleues team-mates in Alpe d'Huez this week for the first sequence of practice sessions ahead of EuroBasket Women (September 24-October 7).

But her participation has been cut short because of problems with her right knee.

Gruda's early injury worries represent a blow to Jacky Commeres, who is heading into his first major tournament as coach of France's women's team.

Commeres, who has taken over from Alain Jardel, sees this week as the start of a new era, with the 2008 Beijing Olympics just around the corner.

"This 2007-2008 period is massive for this group of women, who really want to participate in the Olympic Games," he told L'Equipe.

"Our challenge is to reach the semi-finals of the Euros and at the very least assure ourselves of a place in the Olympic Games."

Commeres has a 19-strong squad at his disposal for the initial preparation period, with the party including 10 of the 12 players who took part in last year's FIBA World Championship for Women.

"We have taken into account the last few recent competitions and especially the good result we had in the World Championship," he added, referring to France's fifth-placed finish.

Commeres must whittle his EuroBasket squad down to 12 players by August 29 at the latest.