Marseille winger Florian Thauvin was strangled in a violent assault after thieves targeted his car and watch on Monday night.

According to French newspaper La Provence, two men on motorbikes deliberately crashed into the 23-year-old's vehicle to force the forward, who is on a season-long loan from Newcastle, to step out on to the road.

Thauvin was then attacked and strangled from behind by one of the men, as they attempted to take his watch – believed to be worth in the region of £22,000 – before he was able to struggle free and flee the scene.

Marseille winger Florian Thauvin was violently attacked after stepping out of his car in France

The former France Under-21 international has been one of Marseille's star performers this season, scoring three in 12 league appearances for the Ligue 1 side on his return to the Stade Veledrome in August.

It comes after a disastrous six-month stint in the North East, where he made just three league starts and scored just once – in the League Cup against Northampton – as he struggled to adapt to life on Tyneside after his £12million move from Marseille.

That stay was ended in January this year when he moved back to the South of France, ending the season there while Newcastle suffered relegation to the Championship.

He made his intentions to return to Marseille clear to boss to manager Rafa Benitez in the summer, turning down a more lucrative deal to Lazio to force the move.

Thauvin is expected to trigger clauses in the loan deal this season that will finally seal a permanent move away from Newcastle.