Frank Lampard issues N’Golo Kante update for Chelsea FC fans
Frank Lampard delivers the latest news on N'Golo Kante's recovery from injury with Chelsea FC
Frank Lampard has revealed that he is hopeful that N’Golo Kante will return to full training with Chelsea FC this week.
The French midfielder was sent home from Chelsea FC’s pre-season tour of Japan due to a knee injury and the 28-year-old has been undergoing his rehabilitation at Cobham in recent days.
Kante has struggled with injury problems since the end of last season and Blues fans will be hoping to see him back in action for the west London club as soon as possible.
Now, Lampard has revealed that Kante looks on course to return to full training in the coming days but the Blues boss is not sure whether he’ll be ready for Chelsea FC’s Premier League opener against Manchester United on 11 August.
Speaking in an interview quoted by Metro, Lampard said: “Yeah, I am hopeful [Kante will return to full training this week].
“He is training. He has dipped into training with us in the last couple of days.
“There is a lot more that he needs to do physically, off without us that he can do without any contact which has been good but the signs are good in the last three days that we have been back.
“It was certainly the right decision for him to come back here and get the treatment that he had. I expect him to be training through the week with us to the point that next week he should be fully training.”
Asked whether he could face United, he added: “That one I will have to assess next week, and see how it is.
“A natural base of fitness yes, but there is also 50 to 60 odd games coming this season so I have to make sure I make the right call on that because the players here have been training very hard.
“So if he is training at the start of next week then it is purely for me and the staff to assess where he is at.
“He is a top class player, so however much you want him in, at the same time you have to make sure he is as fit as he can be when he comes back.”
Kante was deployed in a slightly more advanced role by Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea FC last season and it remains to be seen whether Lampard will restore him to his more familiar holding midfield position.
The Blues are aiming to try and keep their place in the top four this season after they finished third and won the Europa League under Sarri last term.
