Didier Deschamps confirmed Kylian Mbappe is fit to start for France in their pre-World Cup friendly with Brazil on Thursday.

Mbappe's fitness has been a subject of scrutiny in recent weeks, with the striker missing five games after Real Madrid confirmed he was struggling with a knee issue.

However, he returned from the bench against Manchester City in the Champions League and Atletico Madrid in LaLiga and is in line to play for France in their friendlies.

He will be keen to continue his return to match fitness, having enjoyed a stunning campaign for Madrid in all competitions; he has netted 38 goals in 35 games since the end of last year's Club World Cup.

And Deschamps says there is a chance that Mbappe could be included in the starting line-up as he continues to figure out his best team for the upcoming World Cup.

"He can start, but not play the whole match," Deschamps said of the France captain. "He can come on, like the other 24 players.

"He's part of that thinking. Each player has a unique situation. We have six substitutions, which is good too. There are a few players missing on both sides.

"The objective is both to win and to avoid taking risks with the players. They will have important matches in this final stretch with their clubs."

Mbappe was also present at the press conference, and he denied rumours of a "medical error" at Madrid.

Reports suggested Madrid had misdiagnosed Mbappe's injury by performing an MRI on the wrong leg back in December, and as such, issuing the wrong treatment.

When no problem was found with his right knee after the initial scan, Mbappe played three games before the mistake was realised, which is when he was sidelined again, but the 27-year-old shut down those claims.

"The information that they examined the wrong knee is not true," he said of the rumours. "I may be indirectly responsible.

"When you don't communicate, everyone takes advantage of the situation; that's how it is. We've always had fairly clear communication with Real Madrid.

"We're at an important point in the season. I wanted the team to win matches [during his absence], it's great. When I was injured at the beginning of January, I wasn't there; everyone thought I was the club's only solution, and that wasn't the case."

There have also been reports in the build-up to the match against Brazil in Orlando that Zinedine Zidane has verbally agreed to take over as France head coach when Deschamps leaves following the World Cup.

France Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo fuelled the speculation in an interview when asked about Deschamps' successor, claiming, "Yes, I know his name".

With no official confirmation, Deschamps shrugged off questions when asked if Diallo had been hinting at Zidane's arrival.

"I usually don't comment," he added. "I'm not going to respond through you. He's with us. That's it.

"I'm focusing on what's important to me. You're free to interpret, to make stories out of it. I'm not going to waste my energy. I have only one objective, you know that. What happens after is none of my business."