Neither Kylian Mbappe nor the French boss Didier Deschamps have confirmed that he would resume action against the Netherlands today after contracting a bloody nose injury. Mbappe has been playfully teasing the protective nose masks he would wear if he returned to national duty. Meanwhile, Deschamps said the French captain’s recovery is going in the ‘right direction’ after he showed up for training before the Netherlands tie.

While Mbappe’s return to training and Deschamps’ statement hint at a positive update, it remains to be seen as to how much the injured superstar can contribute to the game.

The latest update on Kylian Mbappe’s feature in the France-Netherlands tie

The X handle, Madrid Universal, which is close to Kylian Mbappe’s new club, Real Madrid, has now provided the latest update on his availability for France’s second group game. The X page said Mbappe will start against the Dutch on the bench, citing the French publication RMC Sport.

Since Deschamps will bench the 2018 World Champion, only the group game will tell if he gets some play time or remains an unused substitute. If France manages to outshine the Dutch defense with the help of Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, it is quite likely that the French boss will save Mbappe for upcoming games.

If the 25-year-old were to get some playtime, he would don a customized nose mask with France’s tricolors and his initials emblazoned on it. He wore it for training on the last day. Courtesy of the injury scare, the Frenchman performed non-contact exercises in isolation and joined the Les Bleus squad for a finishing drill.

While the nose injury has not affected the Madrid forward’s European campaign at the moment, he is far from being off the hook. The France coach confirmed in yesterday’s press conference that Mbappe will have to undergo surgery later to fix his broken nose.

Potential surgery awaits Mbappe before his coveted Madrid switch

The French entourage took Kylian Mbappe to a hospital in Dusseldorf immediately after he broke his nose upon colliding with Austria’s Kevin Danso. The medical tests confirmed a bone fracture. However, physicians insisted that the player not immediately undergo surgery.

Meanwhile, Deschamps insists that surgery is the best solution to keep Mbappe’s nose problem from aggravating. “Even if there is no surgery immediately, he will have to do it after the tournament,” said Deschamps.

Besides, intense playing action during the ongoing UEFA Euro campaign also puts the French captain’s condition in jeopardy. Only time will tell if Mbappe will be able to complete the Euros without bothering any further about his nose problem. If the injury aggravates, the French entourage will have to resort to immediate surgery for their skipper. If not, the 2018 World Champion has the herculean task of leading France to their maiden Euro title.