^ ^ Kylian Mbappe injury latest after Real Madrid star leaves France squad

Kylian Mbappe injured himself while scoring the winner for France (Photo: Getty)

Kylian Mbappe could miss Real Madrid vs Barcelona after picking up a painful injury during France’s Nations League win over Turkey on Friday night.

Mbappe scored the only goal of the game in the 54th minute from a Michael Olise assist, to give manager Zinedine Zidane a win in his first match since replacing the legendary Didier Deschamps.

But the Les Bleus captain began limping almost immediately after finding the back of the net and though he attempted to continue, he was unable to do so, leaving the pitch a few minutes later.

Post-match, France teammate and Manchester City star Rayan Cherki attempted to alleviate concerns about Mbappe, telling reporters: ‘He’s fine.

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‘At first we were very worried, but then we saw it wasn’t anything serious. He’ll come back stronger, that’s the most important thing.’

But Zidane had a rather different diagnosis, confirming that Mbappe would have to leave the France squad and miss the remaining fixtures against Belgium and Italy.

‘Unfortunately, it doesn’t look good,’ the manager said.

⚽️ BUUUUUUT DE MBAPPÉ ! 🇫🇷🔥

Le capitaine des Bleus ouvre le score et délivre la France ! 🤩

🇹🇷 Turquie 0-1 France 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/QU1KfUv345

— TF1 (@TF1) September 25, 2026

‘I think he will ⁠have to go back. We’re not going to take any risks.

‘He has swelling in the knee. It’s not encouraging, so we’re not going to take any ‌risks.’

The French Football Federation has confirmed that the 27-year-old ‘suffered a tendon injury’ in his left knee and ‘will miss the rest of the camp’, with no replacement called up as yet.

Zinedine Zidane is worried about Mbappe’s injury (Photo: Getty)

Mbappe is heading back to Madrid for further tests but this news will come of great concern to Real Madrid and their manager Jose Mourinho.

Following a heated derby defeat to Atletico Madrid last time out, Real have slipped to fourth in the La Liga table, six points behind arch-rivals FC Barcelona.

Los Blancos return to action on October 10 against Villarreal and just two weeks later they face their El Clasico rivals at the Camp Nou.

Last season, Mbappe suffered two seperate injuries to his left knee that ruled him out for a total of 37 days and saw him miss seven matches.

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^ ^ Chelsea dealt double injury blow as England star leaves stadium on crutches

A Chelsea and England star was spotted on crutches as he left the game on Friday night (Photo: Getty/Twitter)

Chelsea appear to have lost two more players to injury during the international break, with an England star spotted on crutches after limping off the pitch.

Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro have already pulled out of their respective national teams over fitness concerns but this extended international break is proving to be a bruising one for the Blues.

Firstly, back-up goalkeeper Mike Penders was left out of the Belgium squad for their 2-0 victory over Italy in the Nations League on Friday night.

Belgium’s next game is against France on Monday and while Penders has not formally withdrawn from the squad, there are major doubts over his availability.

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Reports claim the 21-year-old hurt his quadriceps in training which could rule him out for a number of weeks or even months depending on the severity of the injury.

Though currently Emiliano Martinez’s understudy, Penders is highly-regarded at Chelsea and started both of their Carabao Cup wins this season.

And in more concerning news, Jamie Gittens has pulled out of the England U21 squad after appearing to pick up a severe ankle injury while playing against Kazakhstan.

Mike Penders could be sidelined for weeks or even months (Photo: Getty)

The winger started the 4-2 win for the Young Lions but was forced off in the 39th minute to be replaced by his former Chelsea teammate Tyrique George.

Worryingly, the 22-year-old was later pictured leaving Molineux on crutches, casting doubt over his availability for his club in the near-future.

‘Jamie got a kick on his ankle. We never take any risks,’ England U21 manager Lee Carsley said.

Jamie Gittens in crutches after coming off before half-time in England’s 4-2 over Kazakhstan #CFC pic.twitter.com/PIWz9N5BuB

— Katherine Walsh (@katwalshy1) September 25, 2026

‘With the age of these players we don’t ever keep them in camp to see how they are. He will go back.’

Gittens has largely struggled since his £52million transfer from Borussia Dortmund last year and does not appear to be in Alonso’s immediate plans, having not played a single minute of Premier League football this season.

Nevertheless, if he and Penders are indeed sidelined for a long period of time, it will test Chelsea’s strength of depth as they look to qualify for the Champions League and win the domestic cups.

The Blues are back in action on October 10 when they welcome win-less Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge.

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^ ^ Tyson Fury ‘confirms’ replacement opponent if Anthony Joshua fight falls through

Fury is claiming the fight is on the verge of falling through (Picture: Action Images via Reuters)

Tyson Fury has approved a fight with David Benavidez should his Battle of Britain with Anthony Joshua not go ahead.

In stunning developments overnight, the fight that took over a decade to make appears to be in danger of falling through just three days after it was officially announced with Fury accusing Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn of ‘pulling out’.

‘The Gypsy King’ claimed in an Instagram video shared overnight Turki Alalshikh is currently in the process of trying to find him a new opponent for that December date in the Welsh capital.

‘AJ, pull your finger out you little white-flagged, yellow-bellied coward,’ Fury said.

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‘Now you’ve got Turki Alalshikh finding alternative real men who will fight at the drop of a hat. So I hope you are happy you cowardly b*****ds.’

Mike Coppinger of The Ring Magazine, a publication owned by Alalshikh, reported overnight Benavidez is one name being considered to step in and replace Joshua.

Fury has appeared to endorse that idea, sharing a fight poster of the two for that same date in Cardiff weeks before Christmas.

Fury shared the mock-up poster on Instagram.

Benavidez is already  a world champion in three different weight classes having become the youngest super-middleweight champion in history almost a decade ago.

Having also won world title gold at light-heavyweight, he claimed the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles in May this year after knocking out Gilberto Ramirez.

Fury hit out on social media overnight (Picture: @tysonfury)

Moving up to heavyweight would represent another huge step against Fury, one of the true giants of the division.

It would be a journey similar to that of Oleksandr Usyk, a natural cruiserweight who unified the division before moving up to heavyweight where he would also reign as undisputed king.  

Fury is blaming Hearn and Joshua (Picture: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

A press conference to formally unveil Fury vs Joshua was set to be held in London on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s official fight announcement stated Alalshikh ‘will collaborate to promote this historic showdown’ with no mention of Hearn’s name in the release.

Hearn who has promoted Joshua for his entire professional career, was not named in the official press release and has publicly claimed the UFC president cannot be involved.

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^ ^ Man Utd star receives surprise late call-up to national team after injury blow

Joshua Zirkzee has not started a game for Man Utd this season (Photo: Getty)

Manchester United star Joshua Zirkzee has received a late call up to the Netherlands national team following Brian Brobbey’s injury.

Sunderland striker Brobbey suffered a hamstring injury during the Netherland’s 1-1 draw with Germany in the Nations League on Thursday night.

He was not the only casualty from the match, as German forward Kai Havertz also came off hurt, in what could prove to be a major blow for Arsenal.

While new Dutch manager Xavi was unable to give much of an update on Brobbey after the game, he did confirm the .. would have to leave the camp early and that a replacement would be called-up to replace him.

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That replacement has turned out to be Zirkzee, who last played for his country nearly two years ago as a result of his struggling form for United.

A £36.5million signing from Bologna, the forward has recorded just nine goals and four assists in 79 games for the Red Devils.

His four appearances this season have all been late cameos off the bench, making his international call-up somewhat of a surprise.

Brian Brobbey suffered a hamstring as the Netherlands drew with Germany (Photo: Getty)

Zirkzee lasted played for the Netherlands in November 24 (Photo: Getty)

The 25-year-old, who has six caps and one goal for his country, was expected to leave Old Trafford last summer but stayed put despite interest from Juventus and Everton.

Over the extended international break, the Netherlands face away games against Serbia and Greece before a home clash against Serbia.

United return to action on October 10 when they face win-less Tottenham.

More to follow…

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