Kante out of French Nations League team due to knee injury

Due to a knee issue, N’Golo Kante has withdrawn from France’s team for their final Nations League match of the June international window.

The Chelsea star’s season was cut short by a succession of minor ailments, limiting him to just 26 Premier League games, and his health issues are now expected to linger into pre-season.

Following his appearance in Les Bleus’ Nations League opener against Denmark, Kante has been left out of Didier Deschamps’ two subsequent matchday squads, and he has now left the camp entirely ahead of Monday night’s match against Croatia.

The French national team issued the following statement: “Bothered by knee pain, N’Golo Kante left the group this Saturday morning. The Chelsea midfielder would not have been able to play Monday against Croatia at the Stade de France. Defender, Lucas Hernandez, must also leave the group in the evening to join his partner who is waiting for a happy event. Twenty-two players are therefore now available to the national coach, Didier Deschamps.”

During the festive periods last season in the English Premier League, Kante missed a number of games for Chelsea due to a similar knee problem, playing only 2,713 minutes in all competitions.