Paul Pogba has reportedly suffered another injury days before France manager Didier Deschamps will announce his FIFA World Cup squad.
According to L’Equipe (as per Get French Football News), the 29-year-old injured his thigh while recovering from another injury. Pogba will be out of action for another ten days, but this latest knock could convince Deschamps that the midfielder is not worth taking a risk on.
Pogba returned to Juventus in the summer following six seasons at Manchester United, but the France international is yet to play a minute this season. The midfielder underwent knee surgery earlier in the season and is already certain not to play again till the France squad’s announcement on November 9.
Deschamps previously said that he will not take any players who won’t be fit to take on Australia in his team’s opening FIFA World Cup clash on November 22. Pogba was a key part of the squad that won the last World Cup in Russia four years ago, scoring in the final against Croatia.
However, the former Red Devils star has not played a game in six months, with Les Bleus’ injury list growing ever longer. N’Golo Kante is already confirmed to miss the tournament, while Raphael Varane is a doubt.
Didier Deschamps offers defiant update on France’s FIFA World Cup squad
Deschamps has made it clear that only players who are fit and ready to play in their opening World Cup clash will be considered for selection.
Deschamps said (as per SportsMole):
“It’s clear and clean. That I said. I’ve never embarked with an injured player for a big competition. The only thing that is certain is that I will not take a player who is not able to play at the start of the competition. Then it’s on a case-by-case basis.”
He continued:
‘Leaving on a big competition with players who are not fit, already it occupies too much attention, and for those who have to play, it also monopolises the medical staff. Me, I consider that we must leave with fit and capable players.”
“For Raphael, it is less problematic in this aspect, because it is a muscle injury.”
