Star midfield man N’Golo Kante should be back in the Chelsea fold ahead of the Blues squaring up against city rivals Arsenal in the Premier League this coming weekend, according to Thomas Tuchel.
Kante had been sidelined for Chelsea’s win over Crystal Palace on the opening day of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign in which Tuchel’s men ran out easy victors against the Eagles.
The World Cup-winning Frenchman had felt some discomfort in his ankle ahead of Chelsea’s Super Cup tie against Villarreal but Kante had played through the niggle, said the Chelsea manager Tuchel in his post-match remarks who added that the player will be available in time for the Arsenal clash.
“N’Golo felt yesterday (Friday) discomfort in his ankle.”
“He felt it in the warm-up to the Super Cup match against Villarreal and he played a little bit with pain, overcame it. But yesterday he felt it again and we decided to take responsibility and take him out so as not to take any risks at the beginning of the season.
“N’Golo should be back in the middle of the week and be ready for Arsenal.”
Tuchel had handed a start to Mateo Kovacic for the opening day matchup at Stamford Bridge with the Croatian midfielder starting alongside the in-form Jorginho.
Kante’s return on the teamsheet for Chelsea could mean Kovacic dropping back down to the bench to make way for the Frenchman who remains pivotal as ever to the Blues.
