Hamstring Injury Sees Kante Ruled Out Of France’s Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers
N’golo Kante has been ruled out of the French national team’s upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Bosnia-Herzegovina due to a hamstring injury.
Kante picked up the injury despite playing the full 90 minutes in the France’s opening qualifier, a 1-1 draw at home to Ukraine on Wednesday night.
The 29-year-old has been asked to return to his club side Chelsea, who will be monitoring Kante’s situation with keen interest.
The former Leicester City midfielder has shown glimpses of some of his best form under Thomas Tuchel in recent weeks, with games against West Bromwich Albion, FC Porto and Crystal Palace to come right after the international break.
"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."
Kante has made 36 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season.
