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CROISSY-SUR-SEINE. – N’Golo Kante’s inability to claim a regular starting berth at international level sums up the strength in depth France have at their disposal, admits England soccer manager Gareth Southgate. The midfielder won both the Players’ Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Association award after helping Chelsea land the English Premier League title this season. The 26-year-old also started for Leicester City in their remarkable run to the title last year, but Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi started ahead of him for France in last Friday’s World Cup qualifying defeat in Sweden.

Southgate and England are in France for a friendly in Paris tonight.

When asked at a press conference yesterday about French coach Didier Deschamps’ decision to leave out 16-times capped Kante, Southgate said: “He’s got a strong squad!

“I watched France live in the European Championship last summer and thought Kante was excellent in the first game against Romania but they have some very good players. Kante has been a revelation in our league for two years and it’s nice he’s had recognition this season because I thought at Leicester last year he was the most important player in the team.” – AFP.