Chelsea have suffered a big injury setback with N’Golo Kante sent home from the France camp after sustaining a hamstring injury on international duty.
The 29-year-old played the full 90 minutes of France France’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine on Wednesday but reported discomfort following the 2022 World Cup qualifier.
He underwent tests on Thursday, which revealed a minor hamstring injury and will now miss France’s matches against Kazakhstan and Bosnia on Sunday and Wednesday.
The French FA said in a statement that head coach Didier Deschamps had decided to send Kante back to Chelsea after consulting with medical staff.
“Kante will not be replaced,” the FFF added. “It is therefore a group of 25 players who will fly to Kazakhstan on Friday morning.”
Kante has started four of Chelsea’s last five league games and manager Thomas Tuchel will hope to have him fit in time for their Premier League match against West Brom on April 3.
A statement from Chelsea added: “Kante had clinical and radiological examinations on Thursday which revealed a small lesion, and he is heading back to Chelsea today.”