Fekir injury paves way for Payet return to France squad

Importer 16:48 - 08 October 2018

Dimitri Payet is back in the France squad after a year out

Marseille playmaker Dimitri Payet earned a recall to the France squad on Monday after Lyon forward Nabil Fekir was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury.

Fekir, a World Cup winner, hurt his left ankle in Sunday's 5-0 rout by French league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

The 31-year-old Payet, capped 37 times, missed his country's triumph in Russia with an injury of his own, and last played for France in a 2-1 win over Belarus in World Cup qualifying a year ago.

He has scored five goals in 11 appearances for Marseille in all competitions this season.

Didier Deschamps' side host Iceland in a friendly on Thursday before the return clash at home to Germany in the UEFA Nations League on October 16.