Team News: Chelsea to take on Leicester without this key first-team star

Chelsea star N’Golo Kante ruled out of Leicester City tie

According to Football.london, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has revealed that N’Golo Kante will not be part of the squad that takes on Leicester City.

The Blues got back to winning ways in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Fulham at the weekend. The trip to the King Power Stadium is set to present more of a challenge.

Brendan Rodgers’s side has quietly stayed in the title race and could temporarily go top if results go their way. Chelsea are still some way off but could take a giant leap if they come away with all three points. However, they will have to do so without the help of Kante.

Kante also missed out last two games in all competitions. He was suspended for the game against Fulham and is also nursing a hamstring injury. The latter saw him sit out of the FA Cup clash against Morecambe.

The Frenchman is back in training at Cobham. However, it would appear that the game against Leicester has come too soon.

“Christensen is available but N’Golo isn’t. It’s a bit too soon for his hamstring. Those are the only two who will miss the game.”

The 29-year-old has made 24 appearances for the club this season. With the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho having their ups and downs, Kante’s presence has been much-needed in midfield.

A player for the big games, he will be missed against the Foxes. Rodgers’ midfield of Youri Tielemans, James Maddison and Wilfred Ndidi is a formidable trio and will get stuck in from the word go.

The onus will now be on Lampard to ensure we win the midfield battle on the night.

Right-back Reece James could make his return for Chelsea on the night. The 21-year-old missed our last three matches with a hamstring problem and was an unused substitute in the win at Craven Cottage.

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Then a relative unknown, Kante joined Leicester from Caen in 2015. He went on to play a major role in the Foxes’ unlikely title run. This brought him to the notice of the big boys and he moved to Chelsea a year later.

It is fair to say that five years on, he remains a key player for the Blues.