Frank Lampard has revealed N’Golo Kante is set to return back to training this week as he steps up his recovery from a groin injury.
The Frenchman missed Chelsea’s 2-1 loss against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and hasn’t featured for the Blues since a 4-1 victory away at Southampton on October 6th.
Lampard’s men missed N’Golo Kante as a brace from Marcus Rashford sent United into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
But there was better news after the match when Lampard revealed that Kante is set to return to training before Saturday’s game against Watford.
‘He’s hopefully training again in the next two or three days.,’ confirmed Lampard.
Asked whether Kante could play before the international break, Frank Lampard replied: ‘Yeah hopefully.
‘He’s a top player. I would have liked to give Jorginho and Kovacic a rest tonight for what they’ve put in, for their physical output. But I couldn’t because N’Golo, Ross, Ruben…I couldn’t make those changes today and that what it is.’
Lampard made six changes to his starting line-up for the defeat to the Red devils and his side looked rusty in the first half.
Though they improved dramatically after the break, they were sent crashing out after Rashford’s remarkable free-kick.
But Frank Lampard insists he has no regrets about the amount of changes he made and he says he had little option.
‘We’ve had seven wins on the trot and taxing games,’ said Lampard. I think it’s quite clear the league and Champions League are our priorities. Today I had to look at my squad and players who deserve minutes.
‘This competition has an element of that for us. I saw a lot of things that are good for our future. I hate losing but it’s clear there’s a big picture and big games for us to come. Now we just move on, focus on what’s in front.’
