Raphael Varane ‘is set to be fit for the World Cup’ in a huge boost for France boss Didier Deschamps

Raphael Varane ‘is set to be fit for the World Cup’ in a huge boost for France boss Didier Deschamps – after the Man United star was left in tears after being forced off with a thigh injury at Chelsea last month

  • The Manchester United defender went off injured against Chelsea last month
  • It had been feared that he would miss this winter’s World Cup through injury
  • Now believed he will be fit for France’s campaign which gets underway on 22nd

Manchester United defender Raphael Varane is set to be fit for the World Cup despite limping off in tears last month against Chelsea. 

The defender came off in the second half against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with a thigh injury and has been undergoing his rehabilitation at Clarefontaine – the French national football centre.

Concerns had grown that Varane, who was key to France’s success in Russia in 2018, would not be fit in time for the World Cup owing to the short turnaround time between the season ending and their campaign getting underway. 

Raphael Varane is set to be fit for France’s World Cup defence which begins on November 22

However, it has since been reported by L’Equipe that the defender’s rehab remains on the correct timescale with the national side confident he will be ready to go for the tournament.

France’s campaign gets underway on November 22 when they take on Australia. 

Varane has resumed running in recent days as his preparations and recovery step up a notch, though it is not expected that he will play in either of United’s remaining two games before the break. 

The defender was key to their success in 2018 and Didier Deschamps will be relying on him to lead what could be an inexperienced backline

The defender was key to their success in 2018 and Didier Deschamps will be relying on him to lead what could be an inexperienced backline

United host Aston Villa in the League Cup on Thursday before a visit to Fulham on Sunday that wraps up their competitive action until December 27 when they welcome Nottingham Forest.

Didier Deschamps is set to name his final 26-man squad on Wednesday with France bidding to become the first country since Brazil in 1962 to retain their crown.

A week ago, Varane posted a photo of himself smiling on his social media captioned: ‘Thank you everyone for the kind messages this week. I have been working! Feeling good. Good luck today boys.’

Varane went off in tears last month against Chelsea after sustaining a thigh injury

Varane went off in tears last month against Chelsea after sustaining a thigh injury

Deschamps will thus be relying on Varane to lead what could be an otherwise quite inexperienced side with the likes of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba missing and concerns over the form of Antoine Griezmann.

It was reported by Get French Football News that Varane will start in a 3-4-1-2 formation alongside William Saliba and Benoit Badiashile, neither of whom has played in a major tournament for the national team. 

Both Saliba and Badiashile made their international debuts this year.

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