Paul Pogba comes off the bench to provide an assist in France win as Varane plays 80 minutes

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Injury scares over Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane turned out to be overblown after both players featured in France’s victory over South Africa.

Varane was substituted in France’s win over Ivory Coast at the weekend with a bruised foot, while Pogba missed training on Sunday with a ‘foot contusion’.

Both players recovered for Tuesday’s game, with Varane starting the game and captaining his country.

Varane played 80 minutes in the 5-0 win and looks likely to be fit for Manchester United’s match with Leicester City on Saturday night.

He had a comfortable night, making two interceptions and winning three of three aerial duels, with France keeping a clean sheet against their underdog opponents.

Pogba assists

Pogba was left on the bench for this friendly match, with Ngolo Kante returning to the side. Pogba replaced him in the 65th minute with France 2-0 up.

The Manchester United midfielder helped France push forward more and they scored another three goals to round off the 5-0 win.

Pogba provided the assist for France’s fourth, heading Kylian Mbappe’s pass back across goal into the path of Wissam Ben Yedder, who was able to score from just a couple of yards out.

The assist brought a smile to Pogba’s face on a satisfactory night for Les Bleus, with World Cup qualification already sealed.

In his 25 minutes on the pitch Pogba created two chances, had one shot at goal, and completed 38 of 42 passes he attempted, while also making six ball recoveries.

Pogba had admitted he was feeling down prior to the international break after United’s elimination from the Champions League, and the terrifying experience of a burglary at his home.

The break with France will have given him a lift, and hopefully the boost he needs to try and see the season out strongly with United.

Pogba’s contract is set to expire in June, and by time November’s World Cup begins, he likely won’t be a Manchester United player any longer, as he looks to retain the trophy he won as a Red Devil in 2018.