Hugo Ekitike assists on first start as Ibrahima Konate ‘rested’ after injury

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Hugo Ekitike continued his impressive start to the season by claiming an assist on his first start for France in a 3-0 World Cup qualifier success over Azerbaijan on Friday. Ekitike owed a lot of the move to Mbappe after he stormed through half of the Azerbaijan team, played a one-two with Liverpool’s No.

For Ekitike, his first start for France lasted 79 minutes before he was replaced by Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta. However he could find himself leading the line for France again in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Iceland after Mbappe sustained an injury and had to be substituted in the closing stages.

But after taking part in some solo sessions at France’s Clairefontaine base earlier this week, he was deemed fit enough to be named on the bench by Deschamps on Friday. After winning their first three World Cup qualifiers, France are in pole position to secure a place at next summer’s finals in the United States.