France defender Varane's injury 'less serious than thought'

Manchester United's France defender Raphael Varane is less seriously injured than feared and still hopes to make the World Cup, a source close to the player told AFP on Sunday.

Varane, 29, left the pitch in tears with a leg injury during United's 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Saturday after falling awkwardly in a challenge with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

There were fears the injury could rule him out of the World Cup which kicks off in Qatar on November 20 but the source said a scan on Sunday had been "relatively positive".

It showed Varane has a small hamstring tear but it is "less serious than feared" and he can "still have hope" of going to Qatar, the source said.

Varane, who has suffered several long-term injury absences during his career, is expected to be out for between three and four weeks, according to reports in France.

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France coach Didier Deschamps, who will name his squad on November 9, is heading into his defence of the World Cup with a host of injury concerns.

N'Golo Kante, Chelsea's defensive midfielder who was a key part of France's success four years ago, will definitely miss the tournament with a hamstring injury.

Paul Pogba is a doubt as he is still recovering from knee surgery and AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, the backup to first choice Hugo Lloris, could be ruled out with a calf injury.

France's first World Cup group game is against Australia on November 22 before they face Denmark on November 26 and then Tunisia four days later.