Manager Frank Lampard is hopeful of having France international midfielder N'Golo Kante available for selection for Chelsea in the near future.
The 28-year-old travelled with the rest of the Blues squad to Ireland, but did not feature in the pre-season friendlies against Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic, having been troubled by a hamstring problem towards the end of last season.
The last thing we want to do is push him too early.
Frank Lampard
However, the newly-installed Lampard is hopeful that Kante will be able to return to the pitch when the Blues head to Japan to take on Kawasaki Frontale.
He told the club's official website: "He's been training on his own with the physios this week because he's still feeling the effects of his injury from the end of last season and we just want to be careful with him.
"It's not a big problem. We know he's a fit boy and he has a great attitude, so the last thing we want to do is push him too early.
"Hopefully, next week in Japan we'll start to integrate him into the group."
Kante has been at Stamford Bridge since the summer of 2016, helping the Blues to success in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Europa League.
He had previously been pivotal in the extraordinary triumph of Leicester City in the Premier League during the 2015/16 campaign, while he also helped France to World Cup glory in the summer of 2018.
Chelsea are priced at 25/1 to win the Premier League title next season, while they are 5/4 to finish in the top four.
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Manager Frank Lampard is hopeful of having France international midfielder N'Golo Kante available for selection for Chelsea in the near future.
The 28-year-old travelled with the rest of the Blues squad to Ireland, but did not feature in the pre-season friendlies against Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic, having been troubled by a hamstring problem towards the end of last season.
The last thing we want to do is push him too early.
Frank Lampard
However, the newly-installed Lampard is hopeful that Kante will be able to return to the pitch when the Blues head to Japan to take on Kawasaki Frontale.
He told the club's official website: "He's been training on his own with the physios this week because he's still feeling the effects of his injury from the end of last season and we just want to be careful with him.
"It's not a big problem. We know he's a fit boy and he has a great attitude, so the last thing we want to do is push him too early.
"Hopefully, next week in Japan we'll start to integrate him into the group."
Kante has been at Stamford Bridge since the summer of 2016, helping the Blues to success in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Europa League.
He had previously been pivotal in the extraordinary triumph of Leicester City in the Premier League during the 2015/16 campaign, while he also helped France to World Cup glory in the summer of 2018.
Chelsea are priced at 25/1 to win the Premier League title next season, while they are 5/4 to finish in the top four.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com