After the Qatari hecatomb, the Blues are gradually regaining color.
Forfeited for the World Cup, Mike Maignan, Presnel Kimpembe and especially Paul Pogba are progressing in their respective protocols to find their way back to competition.
The road looks a little longer for Christopher Nkunku and N'Golo Kanté, but nothing indicates, at the moment, that the two circles will fall behind on their schedule.
Didier Deschamps should have more choices than at the World Cup to build his workforce ahead of the March rally.
Paul Pogba in the starting blocks
The 29-year-old midfielder could finally find the bench at Juventus Stadium.
This Thursday, Paul Pogba played 50 minutes of a friendly match against the U 23 of Juventus Turin.
He took the opportunity to serve a caviar to Dusan Vlahovic.
Massimiliano Allegri will decide whether or not he will be in the squad for Sunday's game against Monza.
The Italian coach had announced the return of the French international for next week.
It is possible that Pogba will come back slightly ahead.
Pogba x Dušan 🤝⚽️ pic.twitter.com/q8XTjLCql6
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) January 26, 2023
The ex-Mancunian has still not worn the Turin colors since his return to Piedmont this summer.
Injured at the end of July, he had surgery on his right knee in early September before missing the World Cup.
If his progression is linear, without physical glitches, he will be selectable for the return of the Blues against the Netherlands (March 24) and Ireland (March 27).
Maignan, the return of the successor
Here's another one who should apply for the March rally.
The staff of the France team is carefully monitoring the situations of players absent in Qatar and will advise in consultation with the management of the clubs so as not to take any risks.
Hit in the calf against Austria, Mike Maignan has not protected a goal line since the end of September.
If Stefano Pioli and AC Milan will take care to realign him in the best conditions, the return of the doorman is expected for the second half of February.
A
comeback
scrutinized by Didier Deschamps: the former Lille resident is set to succeed Hugo Lloris in the tricolor cages for the next few years and from March against the Netherlands and Ireland.
Kimpembe, still apart
He trains separately but should return to collective training in early February, in less than ten days.
Already bothered by his hamstrings at the start of the season, Presnel Kimpembe had to remove his name from Deschamps' list for the World Cup, due to an injury to the right Achilles tendon.
“He will join collective training in a few days, we will see how he feels.
He needs re-athletic work, ”said Christophe Galtier on Friday.
Without him, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté convinced in hinge.
The Parisian Titi should have the opportunity to reaffirm his status at the end of March, provided he does not relapse by the tricolor rally.
Nkunku, goal at the end of February
You have to look a little further on the horizon to discern the cover of Christopher Nkunku.
Victim of a torn ligament in his left knee at Clairefontaine, shortly before leaving for Qatar, the Bundesliga top scorer is expected to return to competition at the end of February.
The Leipzig player could therefore be reintegrated into the group within ten days in order to take part in collective training sessions.
Beyond the France team, Nkunku and the RBL have an important deadline against Manchester City, in the knockout stages of the Champions League, from February 22.
Kanté, patient and cautious
Like the Nkunku case, it is still too early to predict the availability of N'Golo Kanté during the next meeting of the Blues.
Operated on hamstrings in mid-October, the Chelsea midfielder had counted on a four-month recovery period in consultation with his clan.
On schedule, Kanté is expected to return to training in February and hopes to hit the Premier League pitches at the end of next month.
If nothing suggests that his
comeback
will be postponed, the Frenchman will not take any 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.