France squad: Pogba, Kante, Kimpembe… where are those who missed the last World Cup?

After the Qatari hecatomb, the “blues” gradually acquire color. Excluded due to the World Cup Mike Meignan, Prenel Kimpembe and especially Paul Pogba are progressing in their respective protocols to return to competition. The path for Christopher Nkunku and N’Golo Kante looks a little longer, but at the moment there is nothing to indicate that these two laps will fall behind their schedule. Didier Deschamps should have more choice than at the World Championship to gather his workforce ahead of the March rally.

Paul Pogba in the starting block

The 29-year-old midfielder was finally able to find a bench at the Juventus Stadium. This Thursday, Paul Pogba played 50 minutes of a friendly against Juventus U23 Turin. He took the opportunity to serve caviar to Dušan Vlahović. Massimiliano Allegri will decide if he will be in the squad for Sunday’s game against Monza. The Italian coach announced the return of the French footballer next week. It is possible that Pogba will return a little ahead.

The former Mancunian has not yet worn the colors of Turin since his return to Piedmont this summer. After suffering an injury in late July, he underwent surgery on his right knee in early September before missing the World Championships. If his progress is linear, with no physical disruptions, he could be selected for the Blues’ comeback against the Netherlands (March 24) and Ireland (March 27).

Maignan, the return of a successor

Here’s another one who should apply for the March rally. The French national team staff is closely monitoring the situation with players absent from Qatar and advises in consultation with the club management in order not to risk it.

Shot to the shin against Austria, Mike Meignan has not defended the goal line since the end of September. If Stefano Pioli and Milan take care to put him in the best possible conditions, the doorman’s return is expected in the second half of February. One come back under the scrutiny of Didier Deschamps: the former Lille resident is set to replace Hugo Lloris in the tricolors for the next few years, and from March against the Netherlands and Ireland.

Kimpembe, still apart

He trains on his own, but is due to return to team training in early February, less than ten days later. Presnel Kimpembe, already troubled by his hamstrings at the start of the season, was forced to remove his name from Deschamps’ list for the World Cup with a right Achilles tendon injury. “In a few days he will join the collective training, let’s see how he feels. He needs a re-sport job,” Christophe Galtier said on Friday.

Without him, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate were convinced of the hinge. The Parisian Titi should have the opportunity to confirm his status at the end of March, provided that he does not refuse the drawing of the tricolor.

Nkunku, late February goal

You have to look a little further on the horizon to make out the Christopher Nkunku cover. Victim of a left knee ligament tear in Clairefontaine shortly before leaving for Qatar, the Bundesliga’s top scorer is expected to return to competition at the end of February.

Thus, the Leipzig player can be reintegrated into the group within ten days to take part in collective training. Aside from France, Nkunku and RBL have a major deadline against Manchester City in the Champions League knockout stage starting February 22.

Kante, patient and careful

As with Nkunku, it’s still too early to predict N’Golo Kante’s availability for the Blues’ next meeting. The Chelsea midfielder, who underwent surgery in mid-October, was expecting a four-month recovery period after consulting with his clan.

Kante is scheduled to return to training in February and hopes to hit the Premier League at the end of next month. If nothing says that it come back will be pushed back, the French will not take risks. The blues player knows his body like the back of his hand and will come back at his own pace. Given his importance in the tricolor workforce, Didier Deschamps and his staff will treat his potential return with caution.