N’GOLO KANTE faces a month out after the Chelsea midfielder hurt his hamstring in an inspirational display against Tottenham.
The France anchorman, 31, is awaiting an MRI scan to see if he will miss up to FIVE Premier League games.
The Blues fear he could sit out four weeks – missing matches against Leeds, Leicester, Southampton, West Ham and Fulham.
Chelsea hope he’ll be back at the very latest for the home Premier League clash with Liverpool on September 18.
Kante was taken off after 84 minutes of Sunday’s fierce 2-2 draw with Spurs at Stamford Bridge following treatment to his leg.
At the time Blues’ boss Thomas Tuchel said “no good news” because his star performer had felt his hamstring problem “pretty strong”.
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Arsenal were linked with a surprise move for Kante in July.
But he’s started the season as the defensive kingpin in midfield for Tuchel.
Kante, though, surely can’t afford an injury-hit season as he’s now in the last year of his Chelsea contract.
As a high earner in his 30s, he could be vulnerable to the overhaul of the Blues’ wage bill by the club’s new owners
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The former Leicester ace played just 26 times for Chelsea last term.
But he’s returned from the summer break in supreme form.
Ex-Crystal Palace loanee Conor Gallagher could be Kante’s replacement in the short term.
But Tuchel is still chasing Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, amid strong rival interest from Manchester United.
And the Blues have reportedly agreed a £17million deal for Inter Milan’s 19-year-old midfielder Cesare Casadei.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
