Huge Wesley Fofana injury blow as Chelsea defender withdraws from France duty following injury vs Everton

The French Football Federation have announced Monaco’s Axel Disasi has been called up to replace Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and OGC Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo comes in for Arsenal’s William Saliba both injured and rule out of the international break.

Fofana has been incredibly unlucky as this was his first  senior national team call up, reward for his fine form since he returned from knee injury just over a month ago.

The former Leicester City man injured his knee and was out for almost four months in a huge blow to his start to life at Stamford Bridge, but his return coincided with a change in fortune for Graham Potter’s side and Didier Deschamps rewarded him for his role with a first senior call.

Fofana was in inspired form for Chelsea in their Champions League as they beat Dortmund and played a pivotal role in wins against Leeds United and his former side Leicester.

The 22-year-old who joined Chelsea in the summer however picked up an unfortunate hamstring injury late against Everton and was replaced by Trevoh Chalobah.

The length of Fofana’s injury is still unclear but Chelsea are hopeful he’d be ready for the Champions League first leg encounter against Real Madrid.

Graham Potter defied odds to qualify the team to the last eight but has been dealing with loss of key players with Thiago Silva out for six weeks.

France play the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland in this international break before Chelsea return to action against Aston Villa in the Premier League.