Kimpembe replaces Mangala in France squad

Paris Saint-Germain centre-half Presnel Kimpembe has taken the latest step on his fast track to senior team football, as the 21-year-old was handed his maiden France call-up as a result of an injury to Eliaquim Mangala.

The French Football Federation (FFF) announced the news with a statement on its website Monday, claiming that the PSG academy product was at Les Bleus' training camp in Clairefontaine by request of manager Didier Deschamps.

According to the FFF's statement, Mangala, who is on loan at Valencia after a summer move from parent club Manchester City, strained his right hamstring in training.

With appearances for France's Under-20 and Under-21 sides, Kimpembe could see an opportunity to add a next notch to his footballing belt during a season of progression for the defender.

Under Unai Emery, he has broken through with PSG's first team this season, starting six of the club's eight Ligue 1 matches. With David Luiz's departure to Chelsea, Kimpembe has firmly become a part of Emery's first team, sharing centre-back duties with Marquinhos and Thiago Silva.

France hosts Bulgaria on Friday before visiting the Netherlands three days later in World Cup qualifying after kicking off the campaign with a scoreless draw in Belarus.