PARIS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Monaco youngster Tiemoue Bakayoko on Monday received his first call-up into the French national football team to replace injured Paul Pogba for World Cup qualifier later this week.
The 22-year-old Bakayoko has been linked with a move to Chelsea and Manchester United, and he was highly rated by head coach Didier Deschamps as "a great all-rounder".
Bakayoko finished a decisive header to eliminate Manchester City in Champions League last week, earning his club a quarterfinal spot in the tournament.
Bakayoko is the fifth Monaco player in Les Bleus, along with Benjamin Mendy, Thomas Lemar, Djibril Sidibe and the 18-year-old sensation Kylian Mbappe.
Also on Monday, Deschamps called up Lyon right-back Christophe Jallet to replace injured Bacary Sagna of Manchester City.
France, Group A leader with a three-point margin, will visit Luxembourg on Saturday, before hosting Spain in a friendly next Tuesday.
