Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante believes that Moussa Dembele has did enough to earn his first call up to the full French international side.
At the end of March Didier Deschamps side travel to Luxembourg for a World Cup qualifier followed by a home friendly against Spain.
Kante will be one of the first names in the squad after an outstanding season at Chelsea with the midfielder on course to make it back-to-back Premier League title wins after playing a central role in Leicester’s success last season.
Dembele was voted as France’s u-21 Player of the Year for 2016 and scored twice against England in his last appearance for the u-21 side.
The striker has flourished under Brendan Rodgers this season with Kante believing that 29 goals for Celtic is enough to earn a call up to the French World Cup squad.
“If Dembele is called up, it will be fully deserved,” the Chelsea midfielder told The Sun. “You do not score the amount of goals that he has scored this season and it goes unnoticed.
“He has been one of the most prolific strikers in Europe this season. He must be playing with so much confidence and that is always one of the most important things for a striker.
“The coach picks on form. I don’t think the fact he isn’t playing for what people might consider one of the elite European clubs will be held against him.
“The coach gave me a chance when I was at Leicester and Dimitri Payet a chance when he was at West Ham.
“I do not think that is a worry. He’s scoring a lot of goals and playing well that’s all that matters.”
After finishing runners-up to Portugal at Euro 16 France are on course for automatic qualification to next year’s World Cup Finals in Russia.
Deschamps side top Group A ahead of Holland and Sweden with 10 points from four matches.