Football

CLAIREFONTAINE-EN-YVELINES — France received a boost on Monday as star young striker Kylian Mbappe joined training following a slight thigh strain.

The Euro 2016 runners-up face a crucial trip to Sweden on Friday in their quest to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Monaco teenager Mbappe missed last Friday’s 5-0 friendly victory over Paraguay but looks set to be fit to face the Swedes.

"If you ask him, he’s ready, that’s for sure," said France coach Didier Deschamps with a smile at his team’s Clairefontaine training base.

"He’s ready to start a (France) match, he’s already done it against Spain.

"He’s a young player but that didn’t stop him from showing with his club, both in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, that he was performing well and making a difference.

"He can do that with us."

France travel to Stockholm top of European qualifying Group A, with a three point gap to second-placed Sweden.

Only the group winners are guaranteed a place at Russia 2018.

Mbappe, 18, was in stunning form for Monaco this season, scoring 15 times in 29 league matches and bagging six goals in nine Champions League encounters.

"Like all youngsters these days, he wants everything right now — I don’t see that as something negative, quite the contrary," added Deschamps.

"He had a little (injury) problem last week after six busy months. He’ll learn to manage himself and manage training, because he gives his all in everything.

"But I prefer having to calm him down than shake him up." — AFP