Recently back in action, Mbappe headlines French team for upcoming matches against Brazil and Colombia

Kylian Mbappe, having recently recovered from a knee injury, is set to lead the French squad in upcoming friendly matches against Brazil and Colombia in the United States this month, after being included in the team by Coach Didier Deschamps.

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Deschamps made the announcement on Thursday, following Mbappe's appearance off the bench for Real Madrid in their Champions League win against Manchester City earlier in the week, marking a return to action after missing five consecutive matches for his club.

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The France captain is likely to spearhead the attack against Brazil in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26, and against Colombia near Washington DC three days later, as part of the team's preparations for the World Cup.

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Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike and Manchester City's Rayan Cherki are among the other attacking players named in the squad by Deschamps, while goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has also been included, despite losing his starting position at Paris Saint-Germain.

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These friendly matches serve as the final tune-up before Deschamps announces his World Cup squad on May 13, with the coach noting that many of the players on this list will likely make the cut, although it's too early to draw definitive conclusions.

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Deschamps expressed his willingness to support players experiencing difficulties at their clubs, as seen with Chevalier, who has struggled at PSG and been relegated to the bench in favor of Matvey Safonov, with the coach emphasizing the importance of building trust and not rushing to judgment.

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Chevalier, 24, could have felt threatened by his situation at PSG, but Deschamps has chosen to offer him a "helping hand" and stressed that the goalkeeper's value remains intact despite his recent struggles.

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Les Bleus have been drawn into Group I at the World Cup, alongside Senegal, Norway, and a play-off winner whose identity will be determined this month, as they prepare for the tournament.

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Deschamps revealed that he maintained regular contact with Mbappe throughout his recovery and that the player was eager to join the squad, with the coach appreciating Mbappe's commitment to the team.

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The absence of Bradley Barcola, who is sidelined with a sprained ankle, has created an opportunity for Randal Kolo Muani, who scored for Tottenham in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, to make a return to the French squad.

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Deschamps acknowledged that Kolo Muani has been absent from the team due to a long-term injury but has been impressed by his qualities and is willing to stick with him, despite the player not being in the best form of his career.

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The French squad for the upcoming friendly matches includes a mix of experienced and young players, with the goalkeepers consisting of Lucas Chevalier, Mike Maignan, and Brice Samba.

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The defenders named in the squad are Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konate, and William Saliba, who will form the backbone of the French defense.

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The midfielders included in the squad are Eduardo Camavinga, N'Golo Kante, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Warren Zaire-Emery, who will be responsible for controlling the tempo of the game.

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The forwards named in the squad are Maghnes Akliouche, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Hugo Ekitike, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and Marcus Thuram, who will be tasked with providing the goals for the French team.