Anelka out of France frame

France coach Raymond Domenech today revealed how Nicolas Anelka’s international career would remain on hold for the foreseeable future.

He ruled out a comeback for the Manchester City striker in the Stade de France friendly against Poland on November 17.

Domenech explained how he would only bring back the former Real Madrid and Arsenal man if he felt him worth a permanent place in the squad, rather than hand him a one-off recall.

Anelka fell out of favour with the French Football Federation, and most specifically former coach Jacques Santini, when he refused to come into the squad as a late replacement for the injured Sidney Govou, ahead of a friendly against Yugoslavia in November 2002.

He was angry at the time, having been left out of Roger Lemerre’s World Cup squad earlier in the year, and felt that he was worth more than being a stand-by player.

The 25-year-old, who has 28 caps, has not played for his country since March 2002.

“There is a lot of competition for this position,” said Domenech.

“I won’t take him to play against Poland (on November 17), even in a friendly because when you take a player this is for a good sporting reason.

“If it’s only for one time it’s useless, I would not like it to be done to me.”