Martial not in France squad

MANCHESTER UNITED’S Anthony Martial has been left out of the France squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers but Dimitri Payet and Moussa Sissoko have been called up.

Martial had a hand in all four United goals, scoring one himself from the penalty spot, as Jose Mourinho’s men defeated CSKA Moscow 4-1 in Wednesday’s Champions League encounter.

The 21-year-old has found the net three times in his last four United appearances, and has scored a trio of Premier League goals despite only starting one top-flight encounter in England this season.

That form, however, was not enough to convince Deschamps he warranted a place in the squad for France’s Group A qualifiers in Bulgaria on October 7 and at home to Belarus three days later.

Deschamps told reporters that Martial, whose 15 senior caps include eight substitute appearances and only one goal, had not previously taken his opportunities to shine when coming on during international matches. “It’s not always easy. He’s often had that role with us, and hasn’t always performed unfortunately,” he said. “He’s undoubtedly more effective when he starts a game than when he comes off the bench, that’s also the case for Alexandre (Lacazette), probably.

“Anthony is a lot better because he’s making a difference in games. Of course his last match put him in a very good light: he set up three and scored himself with a penalty. He’s getting back to a good level, he’s being used more by Mourinho. He could have been included.

“It’s a choice. He came to us very young, he was with us for Euro 2016. He had a difficult period that he seems to have gotten over. I can only encourage him to continue and make me think it over again and again.”

Martial’s injured United teammate Paul Pogba was also absent, as were Stoke’s on-loan defender Kurt Zouma and in-form Lyon captain Nabil Fekir, both of whom had been called up for September’s international break.

Payet, who has just two assists and no goals for Marseille in Ligue 1 this season, and Sissoko, who has recently found himself in favour with Tottenahm boss Mauricio Pochettino, make their returns, as does Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane after injury.

Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Arsenal trio Olivier Giroud, Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny and Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante are also included, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe, Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann among the other big-name players selected.

France are a point ahead of Sweden and four clear of Netherlands at the top of Group A in World Cup qualifying.

France squad:

Goalkeepers: Areola, Lloris, Mandanda. Defenders: Digne, Jallet, Kimpembe, Koscielny, Kurzawa, Sidibe, Umtiti, Varane.

Midfielders: Kante, Matuidi, Rabiot, Sissoko, Tolisso.

Forwards: Coman, Giroud, Griezmann, Lacazette, Lemar, Mbappe, Payet, Thauvin.