N’Golo Kante might make Chelsea return in opposition to Everton as Graham Potter urges warning

The midfielder has been out of motion since August with a hamstring harm, however Blues boss Graham Potter has confirmed that he might rejoin the squad this weekend.

Potter admitted Kante has been a “enormous miss” for Chelsea and so they have struggled in his absence. The Blues are at present sat tenth within the Premier League and 11 factors off the Champions League locations, albeit with a recreation in hand.

However requested if Kante might function in opposition to Everton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, Potter mentioned: “[He has a] likelihood of being within the squad. It’s the primary time, so it’s implausible, nice.

“There shall be managers earlier than me which have spoken very extremely of N’Golo as a result of he’s a high, high participant.

“He is a big miss to us. He has been an enormous miss to us. That’s to not say the opposite gamers haven’t given completely all the things, as a result of they’ve.

“However N’Golo Kante is N’Golo Kante. He’s a high participant. So it’s nice for us that he’s again. We should be aware of the truth that he’s had a protracted harm.

“We have to make the subsequent steps to get him up to the mark correctly within the Premier League, which is what we are going to do, but it surely’s nice to have him with us.”

Kante’s return for Chelsea now could be splendid timing as it could give him an opportunity to get absolutely match forward of the Champions League quarter-finals subsequent month.

Chelsea have drawn Actual Madrid and can journey to the Spanish capital on April 11 or 12 for the primary leg earlier than internet hosting the holders the next week.

Potter, nevertheless, has insisted that Chelsea could be cautious with Kante it doesn’t matter what video games have been on the horizon.

“My very own ideas on it are that when you have got had a participant with that harm and that size, it’s a must to take these steps regardless,” Potter mentioned.

“And no matter our scenario is it’s a must to take steps to get him up to the mark, get him as much as being the participant that he’s in a accountable manner and doing it as safely as we will, which permits him to take the best steps to get ahead.

“As soon as he’s at his highest stage then he is a big participant for us.”

Chelsea have a tricky draw within the Champions League as in the event that they beat Actual they’ll face both Bayern Munich or Manchester Metropolis within the semi-finals.

“We’ll concentrate on Actual Madrid once we get there, however in the intervening time it’s Everton,” mentioned Potter. “The sensation is happy, however I’d reasonably discuss Everton as a result of that’s the sport tomorrow and the opposite stuff is a great distance away.”

Kante could also be again this weekend, however Chelsea shall be with out England pair Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling. Defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva are out too.

“Raheem has obtained an issue together with his hamstring. It’s not too severe however he’ll miss the sport on the weekend and he’ll miss the worldwide journey,” mentioned Potter.

“It’s the identical with Mason. Mason has been struggling a little bit bit together with his pubic bone. He wasn’t 100 per cent the final recreation. He’s nonetheless not fairly there, so he’ll miss the England camp as nicely.

“Thiago continues to be away, Azpi continues to be away.”