France boss Didier Deschamps reveals full extent of Chelsea star N’Golo Kante’s thigh injury that rules him out of Les Bleus’ final qualifier
Deschamps has confirmed Kante has picked up a thigh injury, which will rule him out of France’s must-win World Cup qualifier against Belarus on Tuesday
France boss Didier Deschamps has confirmed that N'Golo Kante will miss France's final qualifier against Belarus on Tuesday due to injury.
Kante limped off with a thigh injury in France's clash with Bulgaria on Saturday night.
The Chelsea midfielder clutched the back of his leg as he left the pitch in the first half of the World Cup qualifier.
In the 26-year-old's place, Paris Saint-Germain starlet Adrien Rabiot will step in as a replacement.
"It's a muscular problem behind the thigh," Deschamps told a news conference.
"It is fixed for Tuesday. Kante and [Adrien] Rabiot pretty much swapped. You need balance.
"Kante has a very important role.
"Rabiot can play that role, but the output of N'Golo may have destabilised the team - though that doesn't take anything away from Adrien."
The news will be a blow for Blues fans as Kante has played every minute of their Premier League campaign this season.
And the injury comes at a busy time for the Blues with six games between next weekend and the end of October.
Chelsea visit Crystal Palace next in the Premier League on Saturday before facing Roma in the Champions League.