Worry For Conte As N’Golo Kante Faces Three Weeks Out

Chelsea Manager, Antonio Conte said on Friday that midfielder N’Golo Kante could be out for three weeks with a hamstring injury.

The French midfielder was forced off in the first half of France’s World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria last weekend and Conte expects him to be out for the rest of October.

Kante now joins his fellow team mates Alvaro Morata and Danny Drinkwater, who will be on the sideline on this weekend’s league clash with Crystal Palace.

The Blues manager admitted Kante’s absence is a big blow as his men head into a busy period, especially as Morata and Drinkwater, are also injured at present.

Conte said: “We have three injured players. I hope to have [Morata] very soon, for the game against Roma. Drinkwater is progressing well but is not ready yet. We must have patience with him, with his calf problem.

“It’s a big loss for us because you know the importance of Kante in our team. We don’t have another player with the same characteristics,” Conte said.

Chelsea’s injury concerns leave Tiemoue Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas as Conte’s only fit senior options in central midfield, and the Italian admitted his side hasn’t been lucky lately.

“For sure we’re not lucky in this period. In midfield we now have only Bakayoko and Fabregas available and we have to approach seven games in one and also we have to hope no injuries in these games,” the Blues coach added.