Ndombele returns positive diagnosis for COVID-19

Tanguy Ndombele has been left out of the France national team squad after reportedly being tested positive for coronavirus.

France are preparing for next month’s UEFA Nations League, with Sweden set to be their first opponent on September 5 while Croatia await them three days later.

But Les Bleus will have to make do without Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Tottenham’s Tanguy Ndombele as both the players have been tested positive for COVID-19.

Manager Didier Deschamps confirmed the news in a press conference, adding that Pogba’s place has been taken by Rennes’ Eduardo Camavinga.

Deschamps said as L’Equipe reports: “I had to make a last-minute change to this list because Paul Pogba was planned to be in this list but unfortunately for him, he took a [COVID-19] test yesterday which turned out to be positive today.

“So at the last minute he was replaced by Eduardo Camavinga.”

Ndombele has been placed into quarantine for 14 days and will hence also miss a part of Tottenham’s pre-season schedule.

He had a lackluster debut Premier League season which raised questions over his place in the France team.

The midfielder suffered a hamstring injury earlier in March and has since not started for Tottenham. He was also absent from the 3-0 win against Ipswich in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.