Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has conceived an injury that would see him miss France’s next two World Cup Qualifiers.
The 29-year-old picked up hamstring during Les Bleus’ 1-1 draw with Ukraine on Wednesday night and will travel back to Stamford Bridge to undergo treatment, with France confirming the news in an official press release.
“N’Golo Kante will not take part in the next two matches of the French team on Sunday in Kazakhstan and three days later in Bosnia-Herzegovina,” a statement on the French Football Federation website reads.
“The Chelsea midfielder felt a pain in the hamstrings of the left thigh at the very end of the match against Ukraine on Wednesday at the Stade de France. He had clinical and radiological examinations on Thursday, which revealed a small lesion.
“In consultation with Doctor Franck Le Gall, national coach Didier Deschamps has decided to put N’Golo Kanté back at the disposal of his club tomorrow.
“N’Golo Kante will not be replaced. It is therefore a group of twenty-five players who will fly to Kazakhstan tomorrow morning.”
Chelsea’s boss Thomas Tuchel will be sweating on Kante’s fitness ahead of a crucial run of domestic and European fixtures.
Kante could sit out Chelsea’s Premier League fixture against West Brom on April 3 and a Champions League quarter-final first leg clash against Porto four days later.
