France defender Mathieu Debuchy will try to keep his hopes of playing in Euro 2016 alive by joining Aston Villa on loan, according to reports.

The 30-year-old has slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal following the emergence of Spanish youngster Hector Bellerin and need game time if he is to represent Les Bleus on home soil this summer.

Villa are currently struggling in the Premier League and are 1.03 to be relegated, but Debuchy apparently sees the temporary switch to play under Remi Garde as an ideal chance to catch the eye of France boss Didier Deschamps.

The full-back was missing from the Gunners squad for Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea and French newspaper L’Equipe claim he is “almost certain” to make the switch to Villa Park for the rest of the season.

Villans boss Remi Garde has made no secret of his desire to draft in the former Newcastle man who has won 27 international caps to date and has scored two goals.

Debuchy did not make Deschamps’ squad for the recent friendlies against Germany and England as the former France captain fine-tunes his options for the European Championship.

Manchester City’s Bacary Sagna and Lyon’s Christophe Jallet got the nod last autumn although Debuchy will fancy his chances of impressing again should he link up with Villa.

France are the current 3.75 pre-tournament favourites to win Euro 2016 as they look to reclaim the title having been European champions in 1984 and 2000.