UK standard visitor visa for French resident with récépissé de demande de carte de séjour

My friend is an Indian national pursuing a PhD in France. Can he use a récépissé de demande de carte de séjour as a supporting document in a UK standard visitor visa application, instead of a valid French visa?

He was previously issued a six-month multiple-entry standard visitor visa and used it four times while his 1-year type D French visa was valid. It expired but he has an OFII stamp in his passport and the said récépissé. All other required documents such as bank statements will be available, as in the previous application.