Kylian Mbappé is a major doubt for France's Nations League match against Italy in Milan on Thursday after missing training with a hamstring problem. France coach Zinedine Zidane has responded by calling up Paris Saint-Germain's Senny Mayulu for the first time.
What we know about Mbappé
The France captain stayed in treatment on Wednesday morning and did not take part in the squad's final training session before the team flew to Milan, franceinfo and L'Équipe report. Both outlets say he is struggling with a hamstring issue. The French federation has not yet ruled him out of the game, which kicks off at 19:45 UK time.
Ouest-France reports that France hope Mbappé will be available for Sunday's second match, against Türkiye in Bordeaux. It is his second fitness scare with Les Bleus this season, after he left the September camp with a left knee injury. He has played regularly for Real Madrid since returning and scored in their 3-0 win at Valencia on Saturday.
Who is Senny Mayulu?
The France team announced on Wednesday that "Senny Mayulu (PSG) joins the France team from this afternoon". The 20-year-old had started the week at Clairefontaine with the Under-21s, so he only had to move across to the senior squad.
Mayulu, a versatile midfielder who has been used up front by Luis Enrique, is in good form. He scored PSG's third goal in their 6-0 Champions League win at Villarreal on 3 November.
A growing list of France absences
Zidane was already short of options. Inter forward Marcus Thuram left the camp on Tuesday with a right hamstring problem and was replaced by Bournemouth's Éli Junior Kroupi, the federation said. Later on Tuesday, France confirmed that Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni had a right adductor injury and had returned to his club, and that he would not be replaced.
France beat Belgium 4-1 with a late comeback in October, while Italy, their hosts in Nations League A, Group 1, beat Türkiye 3-1 in Bologna the same week. For more fitness news, see our injury section.
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