France attacker Christopher Nkunku is reportedly set to be sidelined for up to eight weeks with the knee injury that forced him to pull out of the World Cup.
The RB Leipzig forward was called up to Didier Deschamps's squad for the 2022 tournament in Qatar before colliding with Eduardo Camavinga in Les Bleus' final pre-flight training session on Tuesday.
Nkunku and Camavinga went in for a 50-50 challenge at Clairefontaine, and the former was left clutching his leg on the ground as teammates and coaches gathered around him.
Deschamps came over to check on Nkunku before he limped away to applause from the French fans in attendance, and he was ruled out of the World Cup that same evening.
France revealed that the 25-year-old had suffered a knee sprain, and according to L'Equipe, via Get French Football News, he could be facing eight weeks out.
© Reuters
The report adds that Nkunku will undergo further medical tests to give a better indication of his timeframe, but he is expected to remain sidelined for a minimum of six weeks.
There were fears that the attacker could have sustained a potentially season-ending cruciate ligament injury, but his entourage are said to be hopeful that he has avoided such a fate.
Nkunku has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea over the past couple of months, and it is unlikely that his current injury will scupper a possible switch to Stamford Bridge.
After sustaining the injury that ended his World Cup hopes, Nkunku took to social media to defend compatriot Camavinga, who was the target of racist abuse in the wake of the incident.
"Yesterday evening, following medical examinations, I had to leave Les Bleus and forfeit the World Cup. Now it's time to work with one and only objective: to come back even stronger," Nkunku wrote.
"A thought for my teammate Eduardo Camavinga, unfairly targeted. The World Cup must be a moment of communion and not of division. Thank you to all the staff and my teammates for their support. I will be your first supporter, make us proud!"
France also spoke out against the online slurs that came Camavinga's way, saying in a statement: "Following Christopher Nkunku's injury, Eduardo Camavinga was the victim of racist messages on social media. The FFF condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms and is in full support of Eduardo."
Deschamps called up Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani in place of Nkunku, with the former Nantes man being notified of his inclusion while away in Japan with his club side.
France will take on Denmark, Australia and Tunisia in Group D of the World Cup and begin the defence of their title against the Socceroos on November 22.
Ben Knapton
