France defender Presnel Kimpembe has suffered an Achilles injury three weeks away from their first game at the World Cup, his club Paris Saint-Germain announced on Tuesday. Kimpembe, 27, has already missed seven weeks of action this season due to a thigh issue.📌 Medical update ahead of #JUVPSG@Aspetar— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 1, 2022 Les Bleus start the defence of their title on November 22 against Australia in Al Wakrah.”Following a knock, Presnel Kimpembe has discomfort in his right Achilles tendon and will remain for treatment at the training centre” PSG said in a statement.Bad luck never walks alone – Paul Pogba misses the World CupCentre-back Kimpembe returned to action in last Tuesday’s win over the Champions League and will miss this week’s trip to Juventus but the Parisians did not state the length of his unavailability. Didier Deschamps’ France squad for the tournament in Qatar will be named on November 9 and he is already without injured midfielder pair in Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante.On the other side, things could be better for England. Pep Guardiola is confident Manchester City stars Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips can recover from injury in time to play for England at the World Cup. Walker has been sidelined since suffering an abdominal injury against Manchester United in early October, while Phillips is recovering from shoulder surgery in September.🗣️ “It’s likely.” Pep Guardiola says Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker are likely to be ready for the World Cup based on their recovery time now. 💪 pic.twitter.com/fVgbXJ9iqN— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 1, 2022 Both players remain out of action but City manager Guardiola believes they still have time to prove their fitness to England boss Gareth Southgate.”It’s likely, from the way they recover. From what I hear in the dressing room, it is likely they can be ready. You don’t play a World Cup every week” Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday.##NAJAVA_MECA_6778858##Former Leeds midfielder Phillips appears to face the tougher road to Qatar after playing for just 14 minutes this season. Phillips will not feature in City’s last Champions League group game against Sevilla on Wednesday. After that, the Premier League champions face Fulham on Saturday, then play Chelsea in the League Cup before their last game against Brentford ahead of the World Cup.That gives Phillips little time to show he is ready for World Cup duty.Qatar World Cup – source of positive anticipation and major worriment at the same timeAsked when Phillips might return, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. He’s doing partial training sessions with the team, so not contact yet, but we will see the evolution and the needs. I know how important the World Cup is but I’m not going to use a player if they are not ready in physicality or rhythm. We will evaluate if he is in the best condition to play. We’ve been impressed with Kyle’s recovery but he is late compared to Kalvin”© Agence France-Presse
