Payet returns for France but Martial misses out again

Dimitri Payet has been recalled to the France squad for their final two World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Belarus.

The Marseille star has replaced Ousmane Dembele in Didier Deschamps’ plans, with the Barcelona winger ruled out until at least December with a hamstring injury.

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has again been overlooked, despite his impressive recent form culminating in a goal and two assists in their 4-1 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.

Lyon captain Nabil Fekir also misses out, despite Paul Pogba’s absence with a hamstring problem, with Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko winning back his place.

Barca’s Lucas Digne and Paris Saint-Germain’s Layvin Kurzawa are the left-back options in place of the injured Benjamin Mendy.

France face Bulgaria on October 7 before they conclude their Group A campaign at home to Belarus three days later, needing one victory to guarantee their place at the finals in Russia next year.

RDV lundi à Clairefontaine pour préparer les 2 derniers matchs de Qualif’ pour la #CDM2018 ! #BULFRA #FRABIE#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/lFJ2m4NTdS

— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) September 28, 2017

SQUAD IN FULL:

Alphone Areola (PSG), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille); Lucas Digne (Barcelona), Christophe Jallet (Nice), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Layvin Kurzawa (PSG), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid); N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Adrien Rabiot (PSG), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich); Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Florian Thauvin (Marseille).