Nordi Mukiele ‘could miss’ France chance after calf injury | OneFootball

Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele has been ruled out for weeks with a calf problem, a setback that arrives as he targets a France recall for this summer’s World Cup.

According to L’Equipe, Didier Deschamps is short at full-back, with Barcelona’s Jules Kounde unavailable for this month’s international break. Mukiele might have been in contention for a first call-up since 2021, but his absence reduces that possibility, and Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu could be drafted for friendlies against Brazil and Colombia, with Nice veteran Jonathan Clauss seemingly out of the picture.

The 28-year-old has impressed in his debut Premier League campaign, becoming a key part of Regis Le Bris’s defence at right-back and centre-half.

He has not played since the 3-1 home defeat by Fulham in February, and is in a race to be fit for Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby at Newcastle United.

Le Bris said Mukiele is improving, but the staff will only risk him against Newcastle if it does not jeopardise the weeks ahead, and they plan to manage the situation carefully.

With the tournament nearing, missing this window to impress Deschamps could count against him, though further injuries elsewhere might yet reopen the door.

Source: Sunderland Echo