Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has confirmed N’Golo Kante won’t be obtainable for choice till the top of February or begin of March because the midfielder recovers from hamstring surgical procedure.
Kane underwent surgical procedure on his hamstring in October, ruling him out of motion for 4 months.
Talking forward of Chelsea’s Premier League return in opposition to Bournemouth, Potter admitted it might be some time till the 31-year-old Frenchman returns to motion.
N’Golo Kante is predicted to return for Chelsea on the finish of February or early March
Chelsea head coach Graham Potter mentioned his precedence is to assist Kante regain full health
The defensive midfielder’s contract is because of expire at Stamford Bridge on the finish of the season.
Potter insisted his precedence was to make sure the Frenchman regains full health, when requested whether or not a choice must be made on Kante’s future earlier than his return from damage.
‘He might be some time, finish of Feb, begin of March,’ Potter mentioned. ‘It was a surgical procedure, so it’s a minimal interval of 4 months just about.
‘I feel my focus is to assist him get again match as quickly as potential, everybody is aware of the standard he has.
‘That isn’t in query, however it’s about serving to him get match and again on the pitch, and searching ahead to seeing him again taking part in soccer as we haven’t seen him.’
Kante’s Chelsea future is unsure along with his contract set to run out on the finish of the season
Kante’s newest damage dominated him out of the World Cup with France, however has not stopped him from being linked with Barcelona.
Though he’s arguably among the finest defensive midfielders of his era, Kante has struggled with accidents during the last 18 months, and has solely taken to the sector twice up to now this season for Chelsea.
Potter additionally refused to be drawn on Edouard Mendy’s contract state of affairs, amid reviews the goalkeeper had turned down a ‘disrespectful’ supply from the membership.
Potter refused to be drawn on reviews Edouard Mendy has rejected a brand new Chelsea contract
‘It’s not my place to talk publicly on gamers contract conditions, that’s between them and the membership,’ the Chelsea head coach mentioned.
‘He [Mendy] has been high with us, with me, he’s an ideal man.
‘He’s comfortable across the place, however when it comes to his contract, I can’t touch upon that.’
Chelsea will return to Premier League motion in opposition to Bournemouth on December 27, with Potter confirming Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic will miss the sport after their World Cup exertions with Morocco and Croatia, respectively.
Wesley Fofana will miss the match after an damage setback, with Ben Chilwell and Ruben Loftus-Cheek additionally absent.
Reece James appears set to be concerned after the knee damage which noticed him omitted from the England World Cup squad.
Chelsea misplaced their final three Premier League video games forward of the break, selecting up simply two factors from their earlier 5 league fixtures.
Potter will hope to have used the day off to place his stamp on the Chelsea squad who at present lie in eighth place, whereas they face Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League Spherical of 16.
