N’Golo Kante nearing a return to FULL FITNESS

March 25, 2023

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is closing in on a return from injury after playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly for the Blues on Friday.

The French midfielder has been missing in competitive action since August 14, when he limped off with a hamstring injury in a 2-2 draw against Tottenham.

But he is now nearing a return to first-team action after playing an hour in a friendly match-a 3-0 win for a Chelsea side against Charlton. According to The Athletic, the 31-year-old midfielder played for an hour and came through without any knocks or setbacks.

With Chelsea struggling with injuries and form this season, Graham Potter will hope that Kante’s closed-door involvement will lead to more minutes in the field when the Premier League and Champions League resume after the international break. 

The Frenchman hasn’t featured in any game since Potter’s arrival, although he was in the Matchday squad in Chelsea’s last game at Stamford Bridge against Everton. However, the manager provided an update on his fitness last weekend, claiming that the midfielder still needed some training days. 

“N’Golo’s due to carry on training Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with potentially a game to give him some minutes,” said Potter.

Chelsea strengthened their midfield in January with the signing of Enzo Fernandez, who joined for a record £ 106 million deal from Benfica. However, they also lost long-standing midfielder Jorginho to Arsenal in the winter transfer window, meaning there is still space for Kante in the Chelsea midfield. 

However, there is a possibility that Kante could move on this summer, given that he is in the final months of his contract in North London. The Blues have reportedly offered the French World Cup winner a new deal, although agreements have yet to be reached. 

Barcelona has been linked to the tough-tackling midfielder, who, before his injury, was one of the most sought-after midfielders in the world. 

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