Mbappe’s injury scare after heavy ankle blow
FRANCE star Kylian Mbappe last night insisted he would be fit for the World Cup despite being forced off with an ankle injury after a crunching tackle in training. Didier Deschamps’ side were left sweating on the fitness of their 19-year-old attacker following a challenge from team-mate Adil Rami. Mbappe, who spent last season on loan at Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco ahead of a proposed £168million move this summer, was later seen with strapping on his left ankle. Last night Mbappe tried to ease concern by tweeting: ‘I’m fine. It’s just a hit so it doesn’t matter but thanks. It was not nasty.’ But the injury will cause concern as Mbappe also suffered a knock in France’s 1-1 draw with the United States on Saturday, after he’d scored the equaliser. France’s first game of the World Cup is against Australia in Kazan on Saturday. They also face Peru and Denmark in Group C. Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette are among those on France’s standby list. Meanwhile, France winger and Liverpool target Thomas Lemar could be on his way from Monaco to Atletico Madrid after the two clubs reached a preliminary agreement yesterday.