Varane withdrawal sees Yanga-Mbiwa called up to France squad

04-Feb-2013 4:05:00 AM

The Real Madrid centre-back has withdrawn from Les Bleus' latest side to face Germany due to a muscle injury, and the Newcastle United defender will replace him

France head coach Didier Deschamps has called up Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to replace injured Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane for their friendly clash with Germany on Wednesday night.

Varane has impressed for Los Blancos during Pepe’s absence and had earned himself a call-up to the senior squad, but looks to have picked up a knock in Madrid’s defeat to Granada on Saturday night.

The France Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed that the centre-back has pulled out of the upcoming friendly with a muscle injury, having met with the team doctor at the weekend.

This has led to new Newcastle United signing Yanga-Mbiwa being named as his replacement, and he will join up with the French squad on Monday in Clairefontaine.

The defender joined the Premier League club in January, having been chased by the likes of Arsenal last summer after skippering Montpellier to an unlikely Ligue 1 triumph in 2012.

He has been capped three times for France - making his debut less than 12 months ago - but missed out on making the nation’s Euro 2012 squad after being named in Laurent Blanc’s preliminary side.