Frank Lampard has given a positive update on the fitness of N’Golo Kante, with the Chelsea boss hopeful the midfielder will be ready for the start of the season.
The 28-year-old prematurely left Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Japan with a knee complaint, having missed France’s international fixtures in June with the problem.
Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign with a trip to Manchester United on August 11 before facing Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup three days later, and the club had initially feared Kante would miss the start of the season.
Kante is currently back in England recovering at Chelsea‘s Cobham training ground, and Lampard is confident the Frenchman will be ready for the club’s opening fixtures.
“For someone in their rehab it’s much more beneficial to be at Cobham with the facilities we have there,” Lampard said following the Blues 2-1 pre-season win over Barcelona.
“It’s not a big backwards step we’ve taken. Hopefully when we get back and are training towards the weekend, he’ll be in a position to pretty much join in with us.
“It was just the best possible work for him to get his individual work so I’m hopeful he’s ready for the start of the season. Maybe a break for someone who has played so many games over the past few years at such a level, it may not be the worst.”
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