Kylian Mbappe was absent from training on Tuesday just four days away from France’s World Cup quarter-final showdown against England.
The PSG forward, who is the top scorer in the tournament with five goals, underwent a separate recovery session.
Mbappe, who has been in sensational form in Qatar, scoring five goals in four games, now creates anxiety in the camp of France.
French sports outlet L’Equipe reports that the 24-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward was not present at training at the Jassim-bin-Hamad stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Instead, according to the report, the forward spent the day working in France’s recovery room.’
England trades tackles with France for a place in the semi-final of the competition this Saturday.
The PSG star was carrying a slight injury issue earlier in the competition and was pictured wearing strapping around his ankle ahead of the final group match against Tunisia.
Mbappe had complained of an ankle injury going into the tournament but that has not affected his performance as he has arguably been the star player in Qatar.
His absence from training will certainly have attracted the interest of England’s players and staff.
However, it has been two days since Mbappe helped France into the quarter-finals by scoring a brace in their 3-1 victory over Poland.
Les Bleus staff though have played down any concerns insisting that Mbappe is still doing some classic indoor recovery work following the clash with Poland.
Mbappe still has plenty of time to return to full fitness ahead of the clash with the Three Lions, with the two sides not playing until Saturday.
The 23-year-old’s match-up against Kyle Walker on the flank against England will be one of the most eagerly anticipated when the two European heavyweights meet up.
Any injury concern for Mbappe will be music to the ears of Walker and England, with the pacy forward seen as essential for his country’s hopes of retaining the trophy that they lifted in 2018.
France has already had bad luck with injuries across their forward line at the World Cup.
Didier Deschamps’ side has already been heavily impacted by injuries in the attacking area and is missing 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema as well as Christopher Nkunku.
The Paris Saint-Germain star doesn’t appear to be in the same boat as those two though.
England doesn’t have any injury concerns at present, though Raheem Sterling is unlikely to be involved after he traveled home to be with his family following the burglary at his home.
Mbappe is yet to lose a World Cup match as a starting player having won the tournament as a 19-year-old at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
He failed to score in his only previous appearance against the Three Lions, in a 3-2 friendly win in 2017. He has 16 goals in his last 14 international matches.
