Chelsea defender withdraws from international duty with injury

Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has withdrawn from international duty with an injury, according to Fabrice Hawkins.

The Frenchman has been a mainstay in the starting line-up for the Blues since his arrival from Monaco last summer.

His performances have been inconsistent at the back, but he remains a vital player under manager Mauricio Pochettino.

It is now reported that he has withdrawn from France's upcoming friendly games as a result of an undefined injury.

Disasi looked fine in the recent win at Burnley, and the Blues have probably asked him to withdraw as a precaution.

The club have a tough assignment following the international break. They start off with a home game against Arsenal.

Following this, they face Brentford, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in the league before the next international break.

The Blues are set to be boosted for those fixtures with the return of Reece James, who has fully recovered from a hamstring issue.