France manager Didier Deschamps has been hit with a significant injury blow before his side's second game of World Cup Qualifying against Kazakhstan on Sunday afternoon.
Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante completed the full 90 minutes against Ukraine but has since suffered a hamstring injury, and the 29-year-old has now returned to London in order to recuperate.
Kante's absence means that Paul Pogba ought to return to the fold after coming off the bench in midweek, while Adrien Rabiot's spot in the middle should be safe, but Tanguy Ndombele will hope to come into Deschamps's thinking after missing out entirely on matchday one.
Indeed, the Bleus manager will likely utilise the resources he has at his disposal this weekend before next week's trip to Bosnia, so two changes in defence could see Leo Dubois and Lucas Digne replace Benjamin Pavard - who was booked against Ukraine - and Lucas Hernandez in the full-back positions.
Presnel Kimpembe's unfortunate own goal saw Ukraine hold the champions to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, and the Paris Saint-Germain defender could be given the night off with Kurt Zouma and Clement Lenglet vying for starts in defence.
Kylian Mbappe suffered an injury scare in PSG's win over Lyon before the international break, and he did not hit his usual high standards in midweek, so Deschamps may opt to give Ousmane Dembele a chance out wide this weekend.
Antoine Griezmann is unlikely to make way after his stunning opener, but Anthony Martial could spearhead the attack in place of Olivier Giroud, with Wissam Ben Yedder's frustrations on the bench likely to continue.
France possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Dubois, Varane, Lenglet, Digne; Pogba, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Coman; Martial
