Alexandre Lacazette and Moussa Sissoko have been called up to the France national squad after Manchester United duo Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial pulled out due to injury.
Lacazette failed to win an initial call-up to Didier Deschamps’ squad for the November international break despite his impressive form for Arsenal this season.
However, an abductor injury for Manchester United forward Martial means that Lacazette has been included for France’s upcoming matches against Netherlands and Uruguay.
Lacazette has scored seven goals for the Arsenal this season after missing out on France’s World Cup-winning squad in the summer, and has formed a strong partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Unai Emery’s new-look Gunners side.
Sissoko is another player to benefit from an injury to a Manchester United player, with the Tottenham midfielder called up after Pogba withdrew due to the thigh problem which saw him miss the Manchester derby on Sunday.
Sissoko was praised by Mauricio Pochettino following a strong performance in Spurs’ 1-0 win at Crystal Palace this weekend, saying: There are many players in football who were close to going and then come in like this.
“But good thing can happen if you are a professional like Moussa and keep pushing and working hard. Sometimes when you feel the pain you keep your head up, keep pushing and keep working hard, that is the only way to get through it.
World Cup holders France face Netherlands in the Uefa Nations League on Friday night before taking on Uruguay in a friendly on Tuesday evening.