Kylian Mbappe will miss France's Nations League match against Italy on Thursday after suffering a hamstring problem, head coach Zinedine Zidane has confirmed. The France captain sat out training on Wednesday and will play no part at San Siro, although Zidane hopes to have him back for Sunday's meeting with Turkey in Bordeaux.

Mbappe had already missed France's last three matches after hurting his left knee while scoring the winner against Turkey in September. He returned to Real Madrid to recover from that injury, and his comeback for the national team has now been delayed again by fresh discomfort in his thigh.

Zidane told reporters on Wednesday that the decision was straightforward. The France coach said Mbappe had felt a slight pain and that the team would not take any risks with their captain, adding that he hoped the problem was nothing serious and that the forward would be available on Sunday.

First call-up for Mayulu

Mbappe's absence has opened the door for Paris Saint-Germain forward Senny Mayulu, who has received his first call-up to the senior France squad. The teenager steps into a forward line already short of options, with several established internationals unavailable.

Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele, Aurelien Tchouameni, William Saliba, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix and Manu Kone were already sidelined before Mbappe's setback, leaving Zidane to piece together a much-changed side for one of the biggest fixtures of the group stage.

Despite the absences, Zidane has stayed upbeat in public, framing the injury list as a chance for fringe players to show what they can do at the highest level. France remain in a strong position in the group, and the coach has stressed that the long season means protecting players matters more than rushing them back for a single match.

Group picture at San Siro

France sit top of Nations League Group A1 with 10 points from four matches, ahead of Italy on seven and Belgium on six. Victory in Milan on Thursday evening would send the French through to the quarter-finals in March, while defeat would leave the race for the top two places wide open going into the final round of fixtures.

Italy, coached by Roberto Mancini, will sense an opportunity. France's injury problems have stripped them of much of their attacking power, and the hosts will look to take advantage in front of their own supporters at San Siro, where the match kicks off at 19:45 GMT.

Mbappe's only appearance in this Nations League campaign so far came in the opening match, when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win away to Turkey. That goal underlined his importance to Zidane's side, but it also came at a cost, as he left the pitch shortly afterwards with the knee problem that kept him out of the next three games.

Zidane taking no chances

The France coach has made it clear throughout his short time in charge that he will not gamble on the fitness of his star players. With a long club season ahead for Mbappe at Real Madrid and more international fixtures to come, the message from the French camp is that a few days of caution now is better than a longer absence later.

For now, France must find a way past Italy without their captain and talisman. If they manage it, they will book their place in the last eight and ease the pressure on a squad that has been stretched thin by injuries. If they do not, Sunday's home game against Turkey becomes a far bigger occasion, with Mbappe's return likely to be central to it.

Sources: Reuters and Associated Press via theScore.