France boss Didier Deschamps has suggested that Frank Lampard and Chelsea can have no complaints about N'Golo Kante being included in his latest squad.
The Chelsea midfielder, who has been restricted to just six appearances so far this season due to injury, has been named in France's latest squad for the upcoming internationals with Moldova and Albania.
Kante returned injured from international duty last month, after suffering a groin injury during the warm-up prior to France's game against Iceland.
Despite that, Kante sat on the bench for France's game against Turkey, with the midfielder then unable to face Newcastle in Chelsea's next fixture after the international break - and subsequent games since then.
Lampard was unhappy with France over a lack of communication over Kante's injury, with the Chelsea head coach speaking out about his frustration following the international break.
“The Kanté one was not a laughing matter because we communicated before the last international break because he was injured,” Lampard said last month.
“Let’s think what benefits the player. He didn’t go, we both agreed on that. That’s how things should work.
“After the first game when he pulled out, he then had a fitness test the day before the second game; it was clear he couldn’t play. He then sat on the bench on the evening of the game, so that’s not communication… our doctors were speaking and there were times when things weren’t coming back to us when I would expect them to."
Kante has since returned to training for Chelsea and was an unused substitute as the Blues faced Ajax in the Champions League in midweek.
He could face Crystal Palace on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, with Jorginho out suspended for the Blues, but having been included in the latest French squad, the 28-year-old could be set for a busy couple of weeks.
However, Deschamps said that in his opinion, it is "normal" that he should be in the squad.
"I haven't spoken to him [Lampard]," said Deschamps.
"N'Golo [Kante] has taken time to recover, he was back in training last week, in their squad for the Champions League. He is back to full fitness. If a player is available for his club, it is normal that they be part of this squad."
