Didier Deschamps hopes Raphael Varane will be fit for France’s World Cup opener against Australia on 22 November.
The Manchester United defender was named in the 25-man squad on Wednesday as Les Blues seek to defend their crown in Qatar this month.
Varane suffered a hamstring injury in United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea on 22 October, leaving the pitch in tears as he feared the worst.
But the 29-year-old appears to have made good progress in his bid to regain full fitness with Deschamps confident over the role he will play in the coming weeks.
‘For Varane, it’s a little longer injury, but he will be available for the first match against Australia on the 22nd if all is fine,’ Deschamps said on Wednesday.
Karim Benzema is also in the squad despite recent fitness issues. The Ballon dOr winner has been sidelined with various muscle problems over the past few weeks, missing three matches in a row against RB Leipzig in the Champions League as well as La Liga matches against Sevilla and Girona.
He returned to action briefly against Celtic at the start of the month, playing 26 minutes off the bench, but aggravated his muscle problem and was forced to sit out Monday’s defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
Deschamps however is also confident the veteran striker will have a key role to play.
‘Benzema has had a few minor injuries, but he knows very well that the World Cup is a very important moment.
‘He will do everything, like the whole group, to be 100%. He played a lot, maybe too much in one period. He did not refuse to play with Real.’
Presnel Kimpembe was another considered a doubt for the World Cup after picking up an achilles injury in September.
‘The two cases are different,’ Deschamps said of the PSG defender and Varane. ‘Kimpembe has had a little worry but he’ll be available for his club for the last league match on Sunday.’
Elsewhere in defence, Deschamps has a number of options in William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde and Ibrahima Konate, with Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez also options at centre-half.
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