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World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage

Oct 7, 2017 at 7.45pm UK

Bulgaria
0-1
France

FT(HT: 0-1)

Matuidi (3')

Didier Deschamps unsure on severity of N'Golo Kante injury

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 08 October 2017

Didier Deschamps is unwilling to put a timeframe on Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante's injury layoff, but confirms that he will miss the midweek visit of Belarus.

France manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed that N'Golo Kante picked up a thigh injury during the win over Bulgaria, but is unsure how long the Chelsea ace faces out.

The 26-year-old limped off just 34 minutes into the match - which Les Blues held on to win 1-0 - with what initially appeared to be a tight hamstring.

Deschamps has ruled the defensive midfielder out of Tuesday evening's home clash against Belarus, which France may need to win to ensure a place in next year's World Cup finals, though it is not known whether the PFA Player of the Year will be fit to return for Chelsea's trip to Crystal Palace next weekend.

"It's a muscular problem behind the thigh," he told reporters. "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."

Kante's short appearance for France took him to 13 for the season for club and country in all competitions.