Graham Potter has revealed he plans to give N’Golo Kante some minutes during the international break as the midfielder nears a return to full fitness.
Kante has missed 33 games in all competitions this season due to a serious hamstring injury and has not played since the second week of the season, but is finally close to a return having been named in the squad to face Everton at the weekend.
Ahead of the March international break, Potter has now outlined how he intends to get the defensive midfielder back to full fitness ahead of the Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on April 1.
“N’Golo is due to carry on training this week, and potentially with a game to get some minutes,” Potter told club media. “That’s the plan there. The game will probably be internal. We need to control that as much as we can. But that will be good.
“We have got to hope the players come back injury free. And we will use the break to refresh and then prepare for a really hectic April.”
Potter also admitted that, as well as his players, he himself needs the international break to recharge after a stressful few months in charge.
“It’s important for me as the leader to gain some freshness and recharge the batteries,” he explained. “That’s sensible.
“It’s been an intense few weeks. We have had a couple of decent weeks. Clearly we wanted to get the fourth win in a row and go into this international break with a victory.
“We have to keep thinking about how we can move forward and what we have to do better.”
How much have Chelsea missed N’Golo Kante?
Despite signing the talented Enzo Fernandez for a British record sum, Chelsea have still lacked a calming, defensive-minded influence in the middle of the park.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic have both been utilised in the defensive midfield role beside Fernandez, but neither really shone as they were being asked to do things that don’t suit their game. In a fully fit N’Golo Kante, Chelsea will finally have a natural DM to play alongside their record signing, and we could see some hugely improved performances from Potter’s side as a result.
