Didier Deschamps expects Raphael Varane return

France coach Didier Deschamps has revealed that he expects Raphael Varane to be fit for the World Cup qualifying play-off second leg against Ukraine on Tuesday.

Varane watched from the sidelines in Kiev as France fell to a 2-0 defeat, leaving their World Cup hopes in the balance.

The Real Madrid defender missed the game due to an inflammation in his knee, but he is expected to return and replace Laurent Koscielny, who was sent off in Ukraine for an off-the-ball incident.

"He has made a gradual recovery," Deschamps told reporters. "Today everything leads me to believe he is available."

France must overturn the two-goal deficit to avoid failing to qualify for the first time since 1994.