Lucas Digne 'unbelievable' recovery will hand Steven Gerrard big Aston Villa boost

Lucas Digne checked in with the French national team on Monday ahead of Les Blues' two friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa. The left-back will be assessed by France's medical staff with Steven Gerrard confirming that Digne will miss their first game with Ivory Coast on Friday (March 25).

However, Gerrard has said the ex-Everton man could feature for France against South Africa on March 29 - just four days before Villa's showdown with Wolves at Molineux on April 2. "He's nursing a hamstring issue," Gerrard said.

"I don't think the issue is too big, so he won't be out for too long. He'll join up and be assessed by France, having been called up. I think he’ll be a big doubt for the first game and an outside chance for their second game on March 29 against South Africa."

Digne, of course, hobbled off just eight minutes into Villa's 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium last week, with Gerrard informing in the press room that Digne was adamant the injury was not long-term. The 28-year-old has had his left leg in an oxygen boot to help aid his recovery and there's every hope he'll return to match action against Wolves. Gerrard, though, could choose not to risk Digne knowing it's a hamstring injury. A recurrence could see the full-back ruled out for much, much longer, with Ashley Young fit and raring to go should he be called upon once again.

In November 2020, Digne sustained ankle ligament damage in training and was expected to be out for at least six months. However, the Frenchman was back barely six weeks after undergoing surgery with then-Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti labelling Digne's level of recovery "unbelievable".

Speaking on his last big setback more than 12 months ago while at Everton, Digne said: "In my mind